Analysis

ANALYSIS: Body-worn video is one of the most significant emerging technologies in policing, but robust analysis of its effects has been limited. Elizabeth Linos, Joanne Reinhard, Simon Ruda and Michael Sanders of the Behavioural Insights Team report the results of a large-scale randomised control trial in one UK police force.

ANALYSIS: The recent National Crime Agency report on County Lines highlighted the disturbing trend of children being targeted to work for drugs' gangs. In the first of two articles, examining the nature of County Lines, Tina Orr-Munro interviews Andy Passingham and Paul Maslin, co-founders of www.safeguardinghub.com and experienced police officers specialising in safeguarding.

ANALYSIS: Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, examines this week's Home Office announcement of the police finance settlement for 2018/19 - and concludes that, "whilst there is some cause for seasonal cheer", the announcement is unlikely to prevent further reductions in the quality and scope of neighbourhood policing.

2017 Review: A surprise General Election and a promise to deliver on law and order following a spate of terrorist attacks, calls to increase funding in the face of the terror threat and economic renewal, historic abuse cases still coming to light, changes in governance for Police and Crime Commissioners and some familiar conundrums with police powers provide the backdrop to Policing Insight’s news review of the year through the eyes of our popular Media Monitor.

ANALYSIS: Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) were Introduced as part of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 as a key tool for forces to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination. Former head of West Midlands Police Diversity and Community Cohesion Unit (DCCU) Mick Gillick MBE says not only do forces have a legal and moral duty to use EQIAs, but there are considerable benefits to be had.

ANALYSIS: The vast majority of UK forces now have drone capability, but whilst the emphasis has been on their potential to assist policing, little attention has been paid to whether their presence compromises people's privacy and undermines basic Peelian Principles of policing by consent. Inspector Darren Green says it's time to have the conversation. 

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders and media reaction. Here we take a look at HMICFRS' report on police air support which raises serious concerns regarding the ability of National Police Air Support to deliver a consistent service to forces.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the National Crime Agency's County Lines Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply 2017, their third threat assessment.

Analysis: Despite austerity measures putting both police and courts under financial pressure, recent years have seen a large decline in out of court disposals. Rob Allen, author of a new report published today by Transform Justice, says it is time to reverse the trend.

Analysis: CoPaCC’s Police ICT User Survey results revealed superintendents in Scotland expressed some of the highest levels of dissatisfaction with aspects of their ICT provision.  Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), takes a closer look at what the results mean.

Analysis: The results from UK policing's first independent ICT User Survey - published today - are already having a positive impact thanks to the quality of the data, but it is just the beginning of the journey, according to the police associations that have lent their support to the survey.

ANALYSIS: In the fourth of a series of special articles examining the progress of Police and Crime Commissioners as they assume joint governance over police and fire services in their areas, Catherine Levin reports on an increasingly exclusive club of forces intending to take on fire governance.

ANALYSIS: Recent figures from the ONS suggest that almost two million adults experienced some form of domestic abuse last year. But does this still under-estimate the problem? Dr Hannah Bows of Durham University explores the problems with recording - and supporting victims - of domestic violence.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Office of National Statistics report on Domestic Abuse in England and Wales, which draws on a range of data and examines the prevalence of domestic abuse as well as the CJS response. For the first time, the report includes information on victim services.

INSIGHT: Many forces want the benefits of BWV, yet procurement is not a simple process. Each department has specific needs that must be met in terms of quality, cost, storage and future-proofing – one size does not fit all. In this article from the CoPaCC thematic report 'Body-worn Video in Policing', Graham Jarvis looks at the technology considerations.

LONG READ: The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) was originally envisioned as an apolitical arms-length body providing oversight and accountability of the single police service. Dr Ali Malik explores the SPA's short history, and sets out recommendations aimed at strengthening the body’s legitimacy and increasing public confidence.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Scottish Police Federation's Personal Protective Equipment Survey 2017.

Analysis: Criminal justice reform was the subject of a session at this year’s APCC and NPCC Partnership Summit.  There was a consensus that the criminal justice system is dysfunctional and is failing both victims and perpetrators, so is the answer to take more risks?

ANALYSIS: There is copious research about the phenomenon of domestic abuse, but little that is written from a leadership perspective. Dr Linda Reid examines the leadership of domestic abuse in the context of the police and their partners in a large city in the UK. 

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at Big Brother Watch's report on Police Access to Digital Evidence which examines the effectiveness of current legislation on investigating digital data and levels of police training.

Analysis: Dr Sarah Charman spent four years researching new police recruits. Her findings, published in Police Socialisation, Identity and Culture: Becoming Blue, examines the influences on and changing attitudes of new police recruits at the most formative stage in their career and the implications this has for policing.

Insight: It is often difficult to find an Appropriate Adult, as required under PACE. Sunderland University, in partnership with Northumbria Police and Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, have developed an innovative solution. Dr Donna Peacock and Dr Faye Cosgrove explain how the scheme works. 

Analysis: Our new 'Report Watch' series summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. In our first Report Watch, we take a look at HMICFRS's latest progress report on domestic abuse.

Analysis: The new Strategic Principles for Police ICT make good common sense, and are hard to argue against.  We can all agree on the importance of interoperability, good management of data, user-friendliness, and the ability to switch across different platforms.  Efficiency, effectiveness; a rounded view of value for money; future proofing: what’s not to like? Yet the principles also present challenges, and following them will not be straightforward, explains former Greater Manchester Police ACC Ian Wiggett.