Opinion

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.

OPINION: Knife crime has reached its highest recorded level in eight years prompting the Government to propose a new Knife Crime Prevention Order to help solve the problem, but, in this exclusive article for Policing Insight, Director of Transform Justice Penelope Gibbs asks whether the evidence base exists to support the introduction of KCPOs.

OPINION: Policing is a can-do service, but what happens when illness or disability mean that you can't? Colin Paine is a Detective Chief Superintendent in Thames Valley Police. Here he reflects on his diagnosis of ME/CFS.

Opinion: Whatever the demands of the police service, there is a need for support for the business to run efficiently and economically for the benefit of its citizens.  Benjamyn Damazer, formerly vice-chair of a police authority and now working with Sopra Steria, examines the role for a shared service centre of excellence and asks can the police really continue to do it all themselves?

Interview: Those working in this area are familiar with the concept of the 'revolving door' of crime. Burcu Borysik, Policy Manager for Revolving Doors Agency which has just launched a new project, says Police and Crime Commissioners are key to helping break the cycle.

OPINION: Last week, police leaders and ICT suppliers gathered for the two-day Police ICT Summit 2019 in Hinckley, Leicestershire which attracted over 300 delegates. Based on the presentations, one of those delegates has sent us their 'end-of-conference' progress report on the state of Police ICT.

INTERVIEW: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has launched a major new TV campaign for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to be heard at the Truth Project. Head of Truth Project and Strategy Helen Ryan and Chris Tuck, a member of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel and a survivor of child sexual abuse, explain the importance of the Project. 

OPINION: With an increasing emphasis on evidence based policing and greater engagement by police in research activities, Professor Juliet Lodge writes that ethics in police research are just as important as in their operational role.