Features

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Is roads policing ready for the biggest ever overhaul of mandatory vehicle safety requirements? Policing Insight and DriveTech invite you to a FREE webinar this Thursday on what the new regulations mean for roads policing. Policing Insight's publisher Bernard Rix outlines why this webinar, led by a panel of industry experts, is not to be missed.

Analysis: As the world comes to terms with the impact of Covid-19, Professor Karl Roberts, Professor Alex Broadbent and Professor Benjamin Smart examine how some African countries have policed the lockdown.

Analysis: The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has led to calls for police departments in the US to be 'defunded'. Professor of Sociology at George Washington University Ronald Weitzer takes a closer look at whether defunding the police is the answer.

Analysis: Accenture Public Safety Managing Director James Slessor explores how public safety agencies responded to the pressures created by the pandemic and how agencies need to search out and embrace sustainable ways of working in what is now a 'never normal' environment.

INTERVIEW: Kenya has a long history of policing with excessive force, often resulting in unnecessary deaths. Recently, at least six people died from police violence during the first 10 days of a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Douglas Kivoi, an expert on police reform and policy, to shed light on the situation.

INTERVIEW: June is PTSD awareness month. Talking exclusively to Policing Insight, former South Yorkshire Police officer and founder of the Daparian Foundation Richard Gettings shares his personal experience of PTSD and how he has now set up the Foundation to raise awareness and provide support to police officers.  

Analysis: In the wake of the death of George Floyd in the U.S, tensions over racial discrimination have spread across the world, including Australia. Emma Thomas, Associate Professor at Flinders University, examines the policing of protests and why some turn violent.

Opinion: Technology has played a huge role in policing the lockdown, especially in enabling officers and staff to successfully work remotely. Simon Hall, CEO of Coeus Software, explores what this means now Covid-19 restrictions are being slowly eased.

Analysis: Professor Karl Roberts examines the statistics on police suicide in Australia and considers how both workplace culture and stress can prove harmful to police officers' mental health.

Analysis: Professor Karl Roberts takes a closer look at hostage negotiation and examines whether a rigid policy of non-negotiation and police aggression is the only way to deal with terrorist hostage takers.

Insight: Rogue drone incursions are a serious threat to football stadiums. With football currently either suspended or played behind close doors, Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth says now is the time to consider a counter-drone strategy and explore the available anti-drone technology.

Analysis: Already a serious problem for society, domestic abuse in all its forms has been exacerbated by the lockdown. Policing commentator Mark Brown says now is the time to implement a nationwide strategy similar CONTEST, the Government's counter-terror strategy, to tackle this 'epidemic within the pandemic'.

INNOVATION: In the third of a series of articles, DriveTech's Charlie Norman explores a new white paper on proposed changes to new cars sold in the UK from 2024. He argues current rules on a driver’s readiness to be on the road are in need of a comprehensive review. More complex vehicles on more crowded roads, with reduced levels of roads policing, may explain why improved safety equipment hasn’t had the desired impact. 

Opinion: The death of George Floyd in the United States has sparked mass protests across the world including the UK. Although the UK has a different policing model, UK policing has its own problems including the disproportionate use of Stop and Search powers. Here Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, offers a way forward.

Interview: Former MPS police officer Chris Hansen is now Uber's Law Enforcement Outreach Liaison Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe. Here he tells Policing Insight how Uber is working with law enforcement on their investigations.

OPINION: In the light of George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis USA, UK West Midlands Police Chief Constable, Dave Thompson QPM, compares UK and US policing, and explains why he is "convinced we have not moved far enough" on policing diverse societies.

Interview: The COVID-19 crisis has impacted upon police forces across the world. Vice Dean of the Police College of the Republic of Croatia Assistant Professor Ruža Karlović tells Policing Insight how the active engagement in community policing research and innovation with European police partners has supported the organisation and delivery of COVID-19 emergency measures to local communities.

ANALYSIS: The tragic death of George Floyd while in the custody of officers from the Minneapolis police department in US highlights the differences between US and UK policing but a common issue is the under representation of black and minority ethnic (BAME) in their ranks. Dr Daniel Silverstone and Dominique Walker from Liverpool John Moores University discuss the progress of improving diversity in UK policing.

OPINION: The death of George Floyd in the United States, following restraint by police officers, has cast a global spotlight on police use of force. Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson sets out how he and his OPCC team oversee and scrutinise the work of West Midlands Police, thus seeking to retain confidence in policing amongst all local communities.

ANALYSIS: Transform Justice's latest report reveals 99% of detentions are authorised by the custody sergeant. Director of Transform Justice Penelope Gibbs says the statistics suggest too many detentions are the result of a 'tick-box exercise' and it is time for a conversation about how custody decisions are made and scrutinised.

Job advertisement: Police Lecturer vacancies at Babcock International for their new flagship contract partnering with several Higher Education Institutes across London to deliver the new Metropolitan Police Service Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) framework.

Analysis: The Covid-19 outbreak has brought collaboration between agencies sharply into focus. Ian Blackhurst, Executive Director Safety at Northgate Public Services, sets out how the police and partners can connect better to ensure safer communities and lessen the chance of victims falling through the net.

Opinion: As the world reels from the death of George Floyd, Simon Bullock, Chair of the Dorset Police BAME Staff Support Network, argues that despite the significant differences in UK policing, there are some comparisons that might be made. 

OPINION: Policing Insight's publisher, Bernard Rix, considers what George Floyd's tragic and senseless death means for policing globally, and concludes that it's time for police chiefs worldwide to lead by example.