Analysis

ANALYSIS: The apparent increase in youth crime has been the subject of intense media focus and community campaigns over recent months; Bond University’s Dr Terry Goldsworthy, Dr Gaëlle Brotto and Dr Tyler Cawthray explore the data behind the headlines, as well as public perception on what constitutes a crime crisis.

FEATURE: With the UK’s first artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit taking place this week, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at some of the risks posed by ‘frontier AI’, as well as efforts by the UK Government and counterparts in Europe to identify and minimise potentially harmful threats from the cutting-edge technology.

ANALYSIS: Ahead of next week’s UK Society of Evidenced-Based Policing (SEBP) Conference, Simon Rose, CEO of the Cambridge Centre for Evidence-Based Policing, and Detective Inspector Mark Brennan of Leicestershire Police outline the background, delivery and interim results from a police and third sector outreach project targeting violence hot spots in Leicester city centre, which early findings suggest could cut crime and crime harm by more than a third.

ANALYSIS: The latest research from Monash University’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies (ACRS) unit on the cost of living and consumer deviance has revealed that continuing financial pressures on households has not only changed spending habits but also attitudes towards retail crimes such as shoplifting, as ACRS Research and Strategy Director Stephanie Atto and Senior Research Consultant Paolo de Leon explain.

FEATURE: Project Pegasus, a new police team using organised crime gang intelligence and retail crime gang data, has been launched to target the “rampant rise” in shoplifting in the UK as part of the Government’s new Retail Crime Action Plan, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: New international research on the approach by policing and industry to rural crime has highlighted the multi-million-dollar impact on farms and countryside communities often overlooked by law enforcement; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to Dr Kyle Mulrooney of the University of New England and Inspector Oliver Fisher of Sussex Police about the steps that can be taken to improve prevention and response for farmers and rural communities.

OPINION: Tackling county lines and organised crime has become a key area for academic research in recent years, but not all research studies have been a positive experience for local residents or police; GLEPHA Associate and postgraduate researcher Janine Ewen has seen several such studies in her home city of Aberdeen, and shares her experiences as well as steps that researchers can take to improve outcomes and build better relationships with communities.

FEATURE: The most recent member survey carried out by the New Zealand Police Association has highlighted a drop in morale, with officers voicing concerns over increased levels of crime and violence, the need for more mentoring and support, and a shortage of frontline resources despite the recruitment boost of 1,800 additional officers, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: The ongoing violence and conflict in Israel and Palestine have led to more examples of religious hatred and acts of terrorism across Europe, with religious sites increasingly viewed as possible targets; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest initiative to ensure such places of worship are safe and secure, while also promoting interfaith dialogue.

INNOVATION: Police have used traditional line-ups – whether static in person, or using photos and videos – for decades, and concerns have been regularly voiced over misidentification leading to wrongful arrest and in some cases imprisonment; but University of Birmingham research led by Prof Heather Flowe and PhD student Tia Bennett is pioneering new 3D interactive line-ups that have increased identification accuracy, with the team now looking to work closely with forces to further develop the technology.

ANALYSIS: A new report funded by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research has highlighted Police Scotland's ethical and effective use of ‘influence policing’, which uses ‘nudge campaigns’ as part of a strategic communications approach to changing offenders’ behaviour; but researchers have also voiced concerns over the harmful and unethical use of similar approaches by other UK bodies, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: The recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, and the response of the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza, have prompted long and heated debates about the terminology used to describe the actions and those involved; but former Police Scotland Superintendent Martin Gallagher, now a police lecturer and terrorism specialist, argues that there is a clear definition of terrorism and terrorist activity, the criteria for which can used to measure the actions of both sides in this conflict.

FEATURE: As legislation that will create a new oversight body to replace the current Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) works its way through the Irish parliamentary process, the current GSOC Chairperson has warned that unless adequate resources and specialists are allocated to the new body it will be unable to effectively deliver its expanded role, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: Terrorism researchers, policy makers and industry stakeholders will gather in Brussels later this month for the 2023 Security Research Event; ahead of the conference, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at some of the key projects that will feature at the event, focusing particularly on continuing efforts to tackle terrorist content online.

FEATURE: As police forces in the UK collaborate with local authorities, government and community groups to promote National Hate Crime Awareness Week, new figures from the US and the UK highlight an increase in hate crime – particularly anti-Semitism – with incidents surging in the wake of the horrific attacks and continuing conflict between Israel and Gaza, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: New research funded by the N8 Police Research Partnership into the experiences of both victim-survivors of coercive and controlling behaviour (CCB) and frontline officers involved in such cases has found that while policing’s understanding and awareness of the manipulative tactics employed by CCB perpetrators has improved, stereotypical images of victims can still mean such behaviour goes undetected, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: As the impact of climate change on policing continues to be discussed around the world, the UK’s recently updated National Risk Register has highlighted some of the key threats to safety and security, including environmental risks; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at one of those threats – flooding – in more detail, and explores the policing and emergency services planned response, as well as EU research in reducing disaster risk.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by New Zealand Police to identify, analyse and investigate criminals and criminal activity; but University of Auckland Associate Professor Alexandra Sims believes that new legislation and independent monitoring is needed to protect against the dangers of the erosion of privacy and algorithmic bias, and ensure compliance with existing frameworks and principles.

FEATURE: Concerns over the wellbeing of investigators – particularly those involved in sexual offence cases – has been raised in a number of reports and reviews, but recent efforts to focus on those issues has helped to significantly reduce the number of unfilled detective vacancies; ahead of next month’s Investigator Wellbeing Week of Action, Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to organiser Sarah-Jayne Bray about the aims of the event and the difference the renewed focus is making to officer and staff wellbeing.

INTERVIEW: With policing at a ‘critical juncture’ on a number of levels, the potential for digitisation and technological transformation to make a positive impact should not underestimated; in the last in a series of features focused on the recent UK Policing Digital Summit, Policing Insight’s Graham Jarvis spoke to Alex Bowen and Owen White of the Police Digital Service about the opportunities to stimulate the future of policing through digital technology.

INTERVIEW: As campaign group Stamp Out Spiking continues with calls for new legislation to tackle the offence as well as more support for support for victims, Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to CEO Dawn Dines about their work with police and other organisations to improve training and awareness around the crime.

FEATURE: The recent horrific terrorist attacks on Israel, as well as the discovery of an extensive terrorist plot targeting Tehran, have highlighted once again the ever-present threat of terrorism, and it’s potentially devastating impact; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest initiative to protect public spaces across the UK and Europe from such threats, as well as new EU funding to develop measures that will increase the security of citizens against terrorism.

ANALYSIS: While the term ‘shoplifting’ suggest images of someone pocketing a chocolate bar, current retail thefts by organised crime groups in the UK are often more akin to systematic looting, yet the vast majority of offences still go un reported; City, University of London Criminology Professor Dr Emmeline Taylor argues that although an under-funded police service and criminal justice system has exacerbated the problem, retailers themselves could take more steps to safeguard stock and staff.

FEATURE: Facing recruitment and retention challenges, Queensland Police Service has launched a new Special Constable scheme to attract those who have recently retired or resigned back into the force; and as Acting Inspector Howard Kemp explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons, the scheme is also providing an incentive to older new recruits who know they won’t have to leave the Service completely at 60, but can return as a Special.