Analysis

Analysis: The Scottish Police Authority was established four years ago to oversee the newly-formed Police Scotland, but, in that time, the authority has faced intense criticism. Former President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie takes a closer look at the problems the Authority has faced.

Analysis: Dr Karen Lumsden, a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Loughborough, explores the dynamics of police and academic partnerships in terms of what works and what doesn't.

Analysis: Following the London Olympics in 2012, the Metropolitan Police Service began to struggle to recruit and retain experienced officers in its Public Order Cadre. Birmingham University Senior Lecturer, Dr Amy Fraher has looked into the reasons why.

Analysis: There is still a lack of understanding and support around the transgender community. While newspapers feature flippant headlines about gender neutral toilets, those who are transgender have to deal with the sometimes devastating consequences of others' misunderstanding. But some police forces are at the vanguard of a more inclusive approach. Syreeta Lund writes.

Analysis: In 2017, HMIC's Effectiveness report warned that forces were shelving crime investigations or passing them to less experienced staff. Former Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett examines the issues around crime screening and says it is time to adopt a different approach.

Analysis: Police funding is a hot political issue with police leaders warning the cuts have pushed the service to breaking point. Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice, explores why, when policing budgets are so constrained, forces are so willing to pay thousands of pounds for virtual courts.

Analysis: Since 2010, the police service in England and Wales has been cut by nearly 20 per cent. In a typical ‘can do’ response, chief officers recognised the need to tighten the purse strings and, on the whole, responded gamely to austerity by accepting there were efficiency savings to be had in their force areas. However, in the face of continuing cuts and uncertainty over the police funding formula, against a backdrop of successive terror attacks, the language from the top has undoubtedly changed.  Now the talk is of ‘tipping points’ and ‘cracks’ appearing in our police service.

EXCLUSIVE PCC INSIGHT: In the first of a monthly series of articles exclusively for Policing Insight, Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill sets out his thinking on the security challenges currently facing policing and the country.

Analysis: Daniel Kirkpatrick, Assistant Lecturer in International Conflict Analysis at the University of Kent explains how early dialogue rather than criminalising non-violent forms of expression is the route to preventing political violence.

ANALYSIS: This year's Queen's Speech comes in the wake of a general election that left the Conservatives without a majority. Policing Insight's Publisher, Bernard Rix, identifies the policing-related parts of that Speech, and hence the bills that will be brought forward in this Parliament.

Analysis: Eye witnesses accounts are regularly relied upon by police and the courts to prove the guilt or otherwise of a suspect, even though psychologists have shown they cannot be trusted. However, recent research has found some people's accounts are more reliable than others.  

Technology: Everything from mobile phones and laptops to cameras and cars broadcast their MAC addresses as soon as they are switched on. Keith Potter examines how Australia's Queensland Police are using the data to investigate serious crime in Australia and whether the UK could adopt a similar approach.

Insight: The world of crime and policing is changing before our eyes – new crimes are emerging and old crimes are being committed in new ways. Richard Williamson, Executive Director, EY, explores how Greater Manchester Police are responding to new trends.

Insight: Criminals prey on the elderly. Coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Katy Bourne, Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex looks at the scale of the problem in her force area and how Operation Signature is helping to protect the elderly from fraud.

Analysis: Policing Insight launches a unique ‘tracker’ and 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. In the first of the series, Catherine Levin takes a look at the runners and riders and discovers that currently 'the east has it'.

Latest update: UPDATED 12TH AUGUST 2019: A regular series of articles and this useful tracker of the PCCs’ activity and progress. This update reflects the outcomes of the judicial reviews in Cambridgeshire and West Mercia. Gloucestershire were also informed that their business case would not be reviewed before the 2020 PCC elections.

ELECTION REACTION: Another in our series of exclusive articles following the result of the General Election. Eleven years ago, Leicestershire Police had one officer for every 430 citizens - it's one officer for every 599 citizens now. Simon Cole QPM, the force's Chief Constable, looks at the substantial financial challenge facing PCCs and Chiefs.

Analysis: Recent events in London and Manchester have renewed the debate on extremism within the UK and how it should be dealt with. Dr Mark Roycroft, author of  Police Chiefs in the UK, Politicians, HR managers or Cops? (2017) examines the current approach to counter terrorism.

ANALYSIS: Jack Greig-Midlane of Cardiff University examines the likely impact of the General Election result on the Conservative "Police Reform" project, instigated by Theresa May during her time as Home Secretary.

ANALYSIS: Bernard Rix, Policing Insight's Publisher, provides a first look at what the Hung Parliament means for policing and security

Insight: Two years after the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was enacted, prosecutions for trafficking are rising, but remain in their hundreds. Given there were estimated to be between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of slavery in the UK in 2014, the conviction rate remains woefully low. So, what needs to change?

ANALYSIS: Once again horrific terrorist attacks have taken place in the UK - and once again, the public sector's communications staff have stepped up to the mark to keep the public calm and informed. Dan Slee of comms2point0 analyses the public sector comms response to the Manchester attack.

ANALYSIS: Jon Collins, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, takes a look at the commitment the party manifestos are making so far to restorative justice.

ANALYSIS: What are the implications of Operation Temperer? Ian Wiggett, former ACC and lead for counter terrorism, specialist operations and civil contingencies in Greater Manchester, explores the consequences of a raised threat level to police, the armed forces, and the community.