Opinion

OPINION: As a Founder Sponsor of the World Class Policing Awards and a long term supporter of policing in the UK and internationally, Sopra Steria are proud to be a part of celebrating all that is great in world class policing this year. Muz Janoowalla, Head of Emergency Services at Sopra Steria, shares some of his many stories demonstrating policing at its best.

Opinion: Following an initial inspection of 14 forces as part of the PEEL Inspection process for 2018/19, HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr says the cracks are starting to appear in policing. But, none of HMICFRS’ concerns are new, suggesting the cracks are already there - they are just getting wider.

Interview: EXCLUSIVE: The former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Lord Carlile of Berriew QC CBE explains to Policing Insight the challenges of delivering Prevent, defining Islamophobia, preserving peace in Northern Ireland, and what to do about Shamima Begum.

Opinion: When software developer and Special Constable Lewis Westbury witnessed a stabbing, he realised how difficult it is to remember key details. The experience prompted the founder and volunteer coordinator for Police Rewired to develop Emergency Recorder, a volunteer project that helps people capture vital information during emergencies.

Opinion: This Friday (May 17), the Justice and Emergency Services Committee of TechUK will launch an initiative to get police systems 'talking to each other'. Clue's Managing Director Clare Elford explains how policing could emulate the success of an initiative in the banking sector to improve the way technology supports operational officers.

opinion: Special constable numbers have dropped by a third in five years. Could Employer Supported Policing (ESP) schemes help reverse the trend? Dr Iain Britton, from the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice (IPSCJ) attended the first ESP national conference hosted by Greater Manchester Police. He reflects on the event and on the potential for employer-supported models of volunteering in policing.

opinion: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and following the recent publication of the Police Care UK survey on the impact of trauma on officers and staff, Mark Eastwood, senior director of SAS-fit Limited and an expert with 20-years of experience treating complex mental health issues, explains how stigma remains a barrier to those seeking treatment.

INTERVIEW: HMICFRS has raised concerns that neighbourhood policing has been eroded and forces don't know how many neighbourhood police officers they have, but Surrey Police's new Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, who holds the neighbourhood policing portfolio, says that is about to change.

OPINION: With knife crime rising, the controversy over the use and benefits of stop and search takes on greater urgency. Dr Megan O'Neill of the University of Dundee and Dr Liz Aston of Edinburgh Napier University explain how stop and search was transformed in Scotland by police and academics working together.

OPINION: Increasing pressure on police has led to officers recording incidents, rather than actively preventing them. Serving officer Martin Gallagher warns that this trend is damaging to public confidence and that police need to position themselves as society's active guardians, not passive observers.

Opinion: Lynne Owens, Director of the National Crime Agency (NCA), outlines the challenges around policing national threats such as serious and organised crime and why she would like the FBI to be known as the 'American NCA'.

Opinion: Chris Horne, Business Architect for Sopra Steria argues the case for 'subjective, outcome-focused social measures' to even the scorecard of measuring victim satisfaction.

INTERVIEW: The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 12th February. Anti-terror law expert Professor Emeritus Clive Walker QC (Hon), the Specialist Senior Advisor to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, explains to Policing Insight the provisions of the new laws and the amendments made to existing powers.

Opinion: Whilst programmes treating post-traumatic stress are available to police officers, the Quarantine Method tackles issues before they impact an officers’ mental health. Al McGregor of Inner Armour, which developed the method, argues passionately that it’s time for a rethink - all officers must be trained in positive psychology.

Opinion: SafeLives' Melani Morgan has thirty years policing experience. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse who always vowed to use her experience to improve the police response to domestic abuse. Working with the College of Policing, Melani developed Domestic Abuse Matters which is currently being delivered to 14,000 Police Scotland frontline responders.

Opinion: The role of Police and Crime Commissioner may still be in its relative infancy, but PCCs are already driving change, in particular, the current drugs policy which former drug policy lead for West Midlands OPCC and now Head of Policy for the National Youth Advocacy Service Ben Twomey argues is well overdue for reform.

Opinion: Is official endorsement of the participation of on-duty uniformed officers in Pride events across the country blurring a very important line? Blogger, substantive Detective Constable and LLB undergraduate the Secular Detective explains why he thinks that the principles of police officer impartiality are being eroded.

OPINION: While the private sector increasingly sifts job candidates on the basis of personal attributes and transferable skills, policing is moving to a degree-based system. Former officer and now CEO of Mightify Tom Wheelhouse argues that this will reduce diversity and focus on a younger demographic while the private sector widens the net.

Opinion: Mobile data, interoperability, drones, evolving communications: just four of the key technology challenges facing policing right now. Ian Thompson, the CEO of the British Association of Public Communications Officers (BAPCO), looks at why it is so difficult to procure and implement solutions that deliver the benefits required.

Opinion: We will never get police funding right unless we answer the bigger questions, says President of the Police Superintendents’ Association Paul Griffiths.

Opinion: An increasing number of policing functions could easily be automated, but forces are too focused on police numbers. Former Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Paul Kennedy argues that budgets spent on recruiting more police officers should be redirected into embracing these new and emerging technologies.

Opinion: Remember a decade ago when Blackberry devices were all the rage and the iphone was only into its second generation? Simon Hall, CEO, Coeus Software, takes a look at how police technology has moved on since 2009 and where we might be in ten years time.

OPINION: British policing has included volunteers for nearly 200 years - but what can it learn from others, and vice versa? A new research partnership between the UK and Japan will explore the possibilities: Matthew Callender, Laura Knight, Iain Britton, Kimihiro Hino and Mamoru Amemiya explain.

INTERVIEW: The terror attack in New Zealand has exposed fault lines in the prevention of extreme right-wing related terrorism. Ahead of the forthcoming review of the UK’s Prevent strategy, researcher Neda Richards talks to Policing Insight about the findings of her unique research analysing preventative counter-terrorism policing and the impact of community engagement on public cooperation.