Opinion

Innovation Summit: Are you risk averse or risk tolerant?  Innovation Consultant at Idea Drop and former Head of Innovation for Kent and Essex Police Martin Wilson argues that to be successful the police service must strike a balance between the two.

OPINION: Rich Honess is a former frontline officer now teaching on the in-service degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. As such, he gets asked questions, particularly about degree-level entry to the police service. Here, Rich tries to summarise some of the answers to the questions he's been asked.

Opinion: Naloxone is increasingly used by US law enforcement to prevent loss of life from opoids. With more than half of overdoses in England and Wales in 2017 involving opiates, APCC Lead for Alcohol and Substance Misuse and Derbyshire PCC Hardyal Dhindsa says that, as first responders, it's time to consider equipping UK police with the drug.

OPINION: Tri-service safety officers in Cornwall are already attracting national interest. Evan Morris MBE, former Head of Community Safety for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Chief Fire Officers' Association lead on Ageing Safely Strategy first proposed the idea in 2000 and believes the national implementation of such a policy would make a significant difference to rural communities.

OPINION: In a report out today, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) argues that - through an approach called Group Violence Intervention (GVI) - it is possible to change the dynamics in gangs and drive down violence. Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice at the CSJ, sets out the background to the CSJ's latest report, and argues that failing to implement GVI will consign more young people to a lawless existence.

Opinion: In October 2017, Sherry Ralph, COO for the Independent Custody Visiting Association highlighted the problem of custody suites routinely failing women experiencing their period. Fast forward ten months and the Home Office has just released consultation on revising PACE Codes C and H to ensure women are treated with dignity. IVCA Chief Executive Katie Kempen explains why the changes are vital.

OPINION: After two and a half years as a Chief Inspector overseeing Paisley, serving officer Martin Gallagher is moving on. Here, he describes the lessons he's learned about leading police officers in one of the busiest Sub-Divisions in the country.

OPINION: Following the publication of the UNISON survey that revealed widespread sexual harassment of civilian staff, Head of Development at CMP Solutions Richard Peachey offers a way forward for senior managers. 

Opinion: The government has accepted The Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation that forces should appoint apprentice constables on a starting salary of between £18,000 and pay point 1 (£23,586), but Police Federation Professional Development lead Dave Bamber warns it could drive the new entrants into debt.

OPINION: With increasing pressure on police both from budget cuts and rising crime, how can forces best adapt? Giovanni Gaccione of Genetec Ltd calls for a focus on connecting up existing technologies, breaking down silos, and tapping into the vast array of information already available.

INTERVIEW: The National Apprenticeship Scheme is an alternative route for young people to progress into a rewarding career. For 18 year old Rebecca Suddaby, a one year administration apprenticeship at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Humberside has led to her gaining valuable experience to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer. We speak with Rebecca to hear her story….

Opinion: With twenty-five years policing experience under his belt, Devon and Cornwall Chief Inspector Stephen Lenney takes a closer look at frontline policing and the pressures it faces and asks whether it is time for a complete rethink on policing and its processes.

OPINION: The second of a new series of articles providing a platform for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to look back on the first half of their current term, highlighting their achievements so far and ambitions for the remainder of their term. Hardyal Dhindsa the PCC for Derbyshire gives an example of the PCC's ability to drive change through partnership.

OPINION: With police forces in the U.S. and elsewhere investing widely in technology solutions to tackle crime, James R. Sisco argues that an approach blending technology, data, and human understanding is required to deliver strategies that rebuild trust and set the conditions necessary for policing techniques to be effective.

Opinion: Hoax calls are the bane of the emergency services. One force alone received 1,333 such calls in 2017, but how do you stop callers wasting precious police time and resources? Kathryn Jeffrey of APD Communications offers a solution to the problem.

OPINION: Allan Fairley, UK Police & Justice Managing Director for Accenture, works with a range of public sector, police and justice clients. In his latest article, Allan provides his thoughts on how robotics and automation can help officers and staff have more time for engaging with their communities.

OPINION: The first of a new series of articles providing a platform for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to look back on the first half of their current term, highlighting their achievements so far and ambitions for the remainder of their term. We start with the thoughts of Lord Willy Bach, the PCC for Leicestershire

Opinion: Does the word feedback make you shudder? In our series on improving performance in the workplace, Jonathan Rees, owner of Momoho and and an expert in developing high-performing teams in the bluelight sector, shows how the process can be a positive experience.

Police Governance Summit 2018: At this year’s Police Governance Summit 2018, Humberside OPCC Chief Executive Rachel Cook explored the role of leadership in ensuring OPCCs attract and retain the right people to influence success. The following is an abridged version of her presentation.

Q&A: Analytical and data processing software firm Forensic Analytics is the latest company to collaborate with The Police ICT Company, having recently been recognised on its Vendor Management Programme. Forensic Analytics Managing Director and co-founder Joe Hoy  gives his insight into the challenges facing policing in this space and how the collaboration with The Police ICT Company has simplified the procurement process.

Police Governance Summit 2018: At this year’s Police Governance Summit 2018, Kathie Cashell, Director of Strategy and Impact for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) discussed the newly-established IOPC and the implications for police governance. Policing Insight reports on her presentation.

Opinion: Next year, the new Office for Communications Data Authorisations (OCDA) goes live. Interim CEO Shainila Pradhan explains the changes and the organisation's ambition to offer law enforcement a world class service.

OPINION: Can graduates be trained to be detectives in just twelve weeks? Or is the experience gained from time on the street vital to understanding the job? Prof. Stuart Kirby of the University of Central Lancashire weighs the evidence.

Opinion: With policing under enormous strain against an ever-changing criminal landscape, former SIO and now with Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions Adrian Kingswell draws parallels with the conditions that led to the 1962 Royal Commission on Policing and asks if the time is ripe for another one.