Opinion

With so much on our plates, it is very tempting to dive straight into action, rather than taking a few minutes to scan the horizon. Jonathan Rees, who works with bluelight services, offers some guidance on the benefits of seeing the bigger picture.

OPINION: London has recently experienced a big rise in moped-related crimes. James Treadwell, Professor In Criminology at Staffordshire University, explodes some myths about the spike and looks at why it's happening - and why it might get worse.

OPINION: With some eighty per cent of complainants dissatisfied with the IPCC, is it time for a fundamental change? Emilie Sundorph of the thinktank Reform examines the evidence.

Interview: Four years ago, Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, commissioned a report that would redefine the police service's entire approach to those with mental health problems. Now, just as legislation comes into force banning the use of police cells as a place of safety for under 18s and restricting their use for adults detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mr Ellis says there remains unresolved issues and it's time to revisit the debate.  

Opinion: Hosted by the Police ICT Company, the National Police Technology Council and Cityforum, the third annual Digital Policing Summit gathered technology and security professionals, police policymakers and government representatives to discuss the digital challenges, changes and opportunities faced by UK police in 2017. Thomas Drohan, Commercial Director for Clue, outlines five critical issues raised by the event.

OPINION: A form of predictive policing, the Suspect Targeting Management Plan, has been in operation in Australia for 17 years. Dr Vicki Sentas of the University of New South Wales warns that the programme is racialised, targeted overwhelmingly at young people, and damaging and disruptive to their lives.

OPINION: Is the College of Policing working as well as it should be? Serving officer Nathan Constable says the relationship between the College and serving officers is strained, and sets out an urgent plea for the College to reflect and rebuild - before it's too late.

OPINION: Is the Scottish Police Authority too close to the Scottish government - and if so, what does this mean for holding Scottish policing to account? Independent researcher Kath Murray and former president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie examine the state of the SPA.

Opinion: When an officer is medically retired with an injury on duty award, their financial security should be the least of their worries. However, the Injury On Duty Pensioners Association say police cuts have driven some forces to relentlessly and, in some cases, unlawfully review and reduce their pensions in a bid to save money. 

Opinion: Police crackdowns on prostitution isolate sex workers and undermine their safety. With poverty fuelling prostitution, the English Prostitutes Collective argues decriminalisation is overdue and current resources used to police consenting sex should be redirected into investigating rape and other violent crimes.

OPINION: The Angiolini Review examining deaths and serious incident in police custody was published this week. Police Inspector Michael Brown, author of Mental Health Cop Blog, explores the issues raised by the report.

INTERVIEW: The Police Now programme was first introduced in 2015 and has already trained nearly 400 new graduates to become neighbourhood police officers. This financial year it was awarded £3.5m from the Police Transformation Fund. Programme Director Kurtis Christoforides tells Policing Insight what’s next for the organisation.

OPINION: The successful use of DNA evidence to gain convictions in high profile cases has led to significant investment in databases. But are such databases effective? Carole McCartney and Aaron Opoku Amankwaa of Northumbria University examine the evidence.

OPINION: Will the Mafia (or other organised crime groups) help whoever can pay? What does that mean for the nexus between organised crime and terrorist groups? Serving officer Martin Gallagher argues that the decision goes well beyond the amount of cash on the table.

Opinion: With the mental health of police officers and staff increasingly under the spotlight, Patrick Cairns, CEO of the Police Treatment Centres, explains the benefits of the PTC's Psychological Wellbeing Programme and what more Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners can do to support the PTC's work. 

Opinion: Allan Fairley, MD, Accenture Police Services explores the issues surrounding the lack of joined up data in the criminal justice system. 

OPINION: What kind of research best informs police practice? It depends on the question. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University and serving officer Gareth Stubbs explore the pedigree of academic research into the police and the political undercurrents that drive it today.

OPINION: ENABLE UK is a new participant action research project funded by the N8 Policing Research Partnership (N8 PRP), and run in collaboration with Keele Academic Policing Collaboration (KPAC) involving eight police forces, Police Scotland, and the College of Policing. Chief Superintendent Owen West from West Yorkshire Police and Amanda Jacks from the Football Supporters Federation explain.

OPINION: Debriefing and reflection are integral parts of policing after high profile or major events, but what about in normal, day-to-day policing work? Jennifer Norman and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University describe their police students' experiences of reflection and its benefits.

INSIGHT: Oliver Gower, Deputy Director of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit warns cybercrime is escalating, its impact on victims is significant and the time is right for forces to ready themselves to meet the threat.

INTERVIEW: Last month, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which runs the National Stalking Helpline, secured £4.1m from the Police Transformation Fund, via the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), to carry out pioneering work with perpetrators of stalking. Tina Orr-Munro speaks to Chief Executive Rachel Griffin about how the project will work.

OPINION: Amid growing demand on policing, how can forces manage the flood of offenders arrested for viewing child abuse material? Nick Alston, Chair of Anglia Ruskin University's Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER), outlines a major conference in November that seeks to find new approaches to investigations and prevention.

OPINION: Blockchain and other 'distributed ledger' technologies are best known as the basis of virtual currency Bitcoin, but could they be the solution to data-sharing issues in policing and criminal justice? Rick Muir of the Police Foundation explores the implications.

INSIGHT: Mark Cooper, a former HMIC programme director and OPCC Chief Executive, offers an indispensable insight and guide on how to ensure your force inspection goes as smoothly as possible.