Opinion

INTERVIEW: University of East London (UEL) journalism students and Samosa Media have produced a film exploring Prevent, the Government’s anti-radicalisation strategy. Anwar Akhtar, the film’s producer and founder of Samosa Media tells Policing Insight why the film was made and the impact he is hoping it will have.

OPINION: In the recent CoPaCC Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018 report officers and staff express dissatisfaction with equipment, training and support that is preventing them from policing to the best of their ability. Simon Kempton, Deputy National Treasurer and National Board Member of the Police Federation of England & Wales, gives his view on the report findings.

Opinion: Last month, former Deputy PCC for West Mercia Barrie Sheldon called the shock ending of the alliance between West Mercia and Warwickshire Police a 'crazy decision'. Since then, both Police and Crime Panels have met to discussed what happened. Mr Sheldon examines what took place in those meetings and why West Mercia called time on the alliance.

OPINION: Alan Beckley was a police officer in the UK for 30 years, before moving to Australia to teach and conduct research on policing and law enforcement, most recently as a Research Fellow at Western Sydney University. In this, the first of a regular series of articles for Policing Insight, he provides an Australian perspective on the Home Affairs Select Committee's recent report, "Policing for the Future".

OPINION: Think Tank PUBLIC have today, with the support of the former Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, published their "Police Tech Pioneers" report. In this EXCLUSIVE article for Policing Insight, PUBLIC Policy Fellow and former policing advisor to the Mayor of London Blair Gibbs provides his perspective on the report.

OPINION: A lack of integration and interoperability between ICT systems coupled with outdated hardware continue to hamper Scottish police officers but, in his foreword to CoPaCC's Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018 report, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Ch Supt Ivor Marshall says the recently agreed £298 million for ICT investment is an opportunity to create a system fit for purpose.

EXCLUSIVE: Earlier this week, the Home Affairs Select Committee published their long-awaited report "Policing for the Future". In this exclusive article for Policing Insight, the Police Foundation's Director, Dr Rick Muir, sets out how and why the Select Committee's report will have a lasting impact.

OPINION: "Technology is changing fast and it’s essential that we keep a handle on the police ICT user experience, so we can better understand the challenges facing users and look for solutions" says Ch. Supt. Paul Griffiths, Vice President of the Police Superintendents Association in his foreword to the CoPaCC Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018 report.

OPINION: Clue provides investigation and intelligence software to around a half of all UK police forces. In this exclusive article for Policing Insight, Clue’s Commercial Director, Thomas Drohan, provides an insight into his thinking on joining The Police ICT Company’s vendor management service as a managed vendor and what the future might have in store.

OPINION: The Government has recently announced a proposal to increase pension costs for employers throughout the public sector. In an exclusive article for Policing Insight, West Midlands PCC David Jamieson looks at how this could affect policing in his force and more widely.

Opinion: Four years ago, US State Troopers in Connecticut were trained and licensed to carry Naloxone Hydrochloride which can reverse opoid overdoses. The move is thought to have saved 268 lives. Former Detective Sergeant and now chairman of LEAP UK Neil Woods explains why it's time police officers in the UK are trained and equipped to carry Naloxone.

OPINION: The idea of unconscious bias has increasing traction in policing, but what if we're looking in the wrong places? Dr Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University discusses different types of diversity and how internal bias could be affecting both leadership in the police and how certain roles are valued.

EXCLUSIVE: Barrie Sheldon was the Deputy PCC for West Mercia for four years from 2012, during which time the West Mercia Police Alliance with Warwickshire Police was established. He stood as an Independent for PCC in 2016, where he was defeated by the Conservative candidate, John Campion. In this EXCLUSIVE article for Policing Insight, Barrie Sheldon provides his perspective on West Mercia's decision to break up the Alliance.

OPINION: The task of policing has become increasingly regulated over recent decades, largely for well-understood reasons. But has this regulation stifled creativity, autonomy, and the development of 'natural' police officers? Serving officer Martin Gallagher makes the case for a bit more chaos.

Opinion: Earlier in the summer techUK brought together a group of senior police officers, civil servants, and tech industry leaders to explore how technology can best be harnessed to combat fraud. techUK's Henry Rex shares the group's recommendations.

Opinion: With Brexit issues dominating proceedings at this year's party conferences, there was room for little else. However, the Liberal Democrats took the opportunity to renew their call for the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners. Ed Davey, MP for Kingston & Surbiton and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs explains why.

OPINION: Faster and more visual analysis of data revealing the activity of criminals is the key to reducing unsolved investigations, argues Richard Helson, Customer Relationship Director at Chorus Intelligence

ANALYSIS: Managing Director of Xnet Carl Roberts has spent a decade working with forces on collaboration projects. Here he outlines the questions forces need to ask themselves before embarking on a project and reveals the areas most likely to yield success. 

INSIGHT: The police service is used to reviews in one form or another so Policing Insight asked T/ACC Steve Graham, the Strategic Lead for Engagement for the Home Office's current review of frontline policing, what is so different about this one. 

Opinion: Evan Morris MBE, former Head of Community Safety for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Chief Fire Officers' Association lead on Ageing Safely, was recently appointed Independent Member of Cheshire Police and Crime Panel. Here he reflects on his first year in the role and how PCPs can support PCCs in driving effective collaboration.

OPINION: With the College of Policing's Continuing Professional Development week coming up in November, Rich Honess of Canterbury Christ Church University surveys the landscape of policing CPD, and asks what police officers would really like to see provided - and how.

INSIGHT: A recent National Police Chiefs Council report highlighted a severe shortage in applicants for the role of chief constable. One of the reasons cited was lack of job security given Police and Crime Commissioners' power to remove chiefs. Dr Mark Roycroft's book 'Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops?' explores the complex relationship between PCCs and Chiefs.

OPINION: The latest National Audit Office report released this week adds to the evidence that policing is in crisis. Former Chief Superintendent John Sutherland warns that the lack of a national vision for policing is punishing the very people holding policing together.

INSIGHT: Dr Cody Telep is assistant professor at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. During an International Symposium on Policing and Evidence-based Practice at Birkbeck, University of London in July, Dr Telep was interviewed about his research and the challenges facing policing the US and UK. The following is a summary of that interview.