Opinion

OPINION: Data is the oxygen of police efficiency and effectiveness and how it is used is enormously important, but too many forces are playing catch up in adopting data-driven technology, says HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Sir Tom Winsor.

OPINION: How can police forces integrate EBP into their daily working practices? Insp. Roger Pegram, GMP EBP Tactical Lead and Vice Chair of the Society of Evidence-Based Policing (SEBP), discusses the aims, ambition and approach to delivering change at the frontline.

Opinion: Automatic facial recognition (AFR) systems can provide new ways to protect the public, but public support and reassurance rests on a transparent and robust regulatory framework governing its use, says Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter.

OPINION: Policing is under pressure, meaning that officers push themselves to the limit. But is this wise? Serving officer Colin Paine argues that police cannot afford to see taking breaks as a luxury, but instead need to see them as a central part of serving the public.

OPINION: John Gili-Ross is Chairman of the National Association of Police Fire and Crime Panels. He explores the evolution of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and the increasingly important role Police, Fire and Crime Panels play in holding PCCs to account.

Opinion: There has been a 40 per cent decline in intelligence analysts since 2010. Former GMP Assistant Chief Constable and now CoPaCC Director Ian Wiggett attended the National Intelligence Conference in Cardiff where he found local intelligence provision is coming under increasing pressure.

OPINION: The emergence of County Lines demonstrates that criminals can operate beyond their usual geographical limits. However, police ICT struggles to do the same. Richard Helson, Customer Relationship Director at Chorus Intelligence calls for police to improve their agility by integrating better on a force-to-force basis.

OPINION: The Momo challenge that allegedly caused children to commit dangerous acts has proven to be an online hoax, but Greater Manchester Police T/Insp Stevie Swindells says the police missed an opportunity to nip the problem in the bud and use the hoax to educate the vulnerable on fraud and cyber awareness.

OPINION: The Prime Minister has said that there is no connection between rising knife crime and falling police numbers. Former Chief Superintendent John Sutherland says she is wrong; and that she has been wrong about policing at almost every point along the way.

OPINION: The one voice that isn't heard in national debates about policing and crime is that of ordinary officers. Doctoral researcher Ashley Kilgallon of the University of Leeds describes this 'disqualified knowledge' and calls for incorporating it into a more informed debate about the complex problems of policing.

OPINION: Women police officers have come a long way from guarding young women's morals and caring for children. But are they still facing a greater burden than male officers? On International Women's Day, Carina O'Reilly of Anglia Ruskin University examines how far we've come.

INTERVIEW: New technology is accelerating the police service's ability to respond to the challenge of policing in a digital age, but Matthew Cooper, Global Offering Management Director at Hitachi Vantara tells Policing Insight the service should demand more from the different IT suppliers.

OPINION: Former Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police and now an independent advisor on police and technology Paul Kennedy unpacks the challenges of digital evidence and asks if solution lies in greater automation through robotics.

OPINION: The prospect of a no-deal Brexit is still looming, with the risk of the police being seriously overstretched dealing with its consequences. James Treadwell of Staffordshire University and John Lamb of Birmingham City University explore how the armed forces could step in to take up some of the burden - and the risks of such a move.

Interview: Police Now's training credentials are well established, having trained hundreds of young graduates in neighbourhood policing roles since 2015. Now the Home Office is looking to the organisation to help solve the shortage of detectives, estimated to be around 5,000. Is Police Now up to the task?

Interview: CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey revealed the depth of discontent among frontline officers and staff with their ICT provision, but what also emerged was a lack of consultation with some users before they are given a new piece of 'kit'. Police Federation lead on technology Simon Kempton argues the frontline should have a greater say in IT procurement decisions for the benefit of the public, police and suppliers.

OPINION: What lessons can international military command offer to policing? Serving officer Martin Gallagher reports from a personal conversation with Gen. David Petraeus.

INTERVIEW: Child death is such a complex area of policing that it has its own sub group within the NPCC Homicide Working Group. As it prepares for its annual conference, NPCC lead on child death Det Chief Supt Eamonn Bridger explains the challenges of investigating this difficult area of policing.

OPINION: Police tactics may disrupt drug supplies, but they cause more crime and even contribute to the use of children as a go-between in county lines, undermining Peel's principles, says former Detective Sergeant and Chair of LEAP UK Neil Woods who argues it's time for drugs laws to be reformed.

OPINION: Automated facial recognition technology is now being trialled by British police forces. However, there are serious potential human rights issues associated with the use of such surveillance. Joe Purshouse of the University of East Anglia and Liz Campbell of Monash University explore the issues, and call for stronger legislation to govern the technology.

OPINION: Policing is in crisis - but what can be done to fix it? Former Chief Superintendent John Sutherland lays out a ten-point plan for what needs to happen next to rescue policing in the UK.

Interview: The Centre for Justice Innovation has published what it says is the most complete survey of point-of-arrest diversion schemes in England and Wales which are intended to tackle low level criminal behaviour. Research Officer Carmen Robin-D'Cruz brings us up to speed on the current provision in England and Wales.

Opinion: In 2015, after experiencing anxiety and depression, Police Sergeant Mark Montgomery tried to take his own life. In a brave and moving account, Mark explains what he went through and how he used his experience to develop a suicide prevention programme for the City of London Police.

OPINION: The latest @wecops chat discussed a new report by Zoe Billingham of HMICFRS which looked at how effectively police respond to and support people with mental health problems. Sgt Caroline Hay summarises the discussion and the learning from it.