Features

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.

Project Galileo: Project Galileo represents a fundamental rethink of how we can make a difference to tackling harm on our roads. In the latest in a series of articles on the ground-breaking work of the project, criminologist Dr Helen Wells explains her role as academic adviser to Project Galileo, including the significance of behavioural change and procedural justice approaches to the project’s work.

LEGAL INSIGHT: NEW SERIES: In our latest new series, Geoffrey Monaghan, a retired detective and former Staff Officer to the ACPO Drugs Sub-Committee, explores the legal issues that impact policing. In his first article, Geoff takes a look at forthcoming legislation to combat 'upskirting' but will it help or hinder the police?

ANALYSIS: With the on-going debate on the legal status of cannabis, Charlie Lloyd, Geoff Page and Sharon Grace from York University discuss the results of their research in North Yorkshire looking at the day-to-day policing of cannabis possession and analysis of the data on drug possession offences. The research raises important questions about how police forces in England and Wales should deal with this common but to some, trivial, offence.

ANALYSIS: With the end of one World Cup, attention is turning to the next, due to be held in Qatar in 2022. But what is the best way of ensuring a peaceful competition? Lucy Strang and Christian van Stolk of RAND Europe explore the evidence.

LONG READ: International policing missions produce a range of challenges even when the international presence is strong. Joe Napolitano, a former police officer in Northern Ireland, describes the difficulties and successes of policing Kosovo and elsewhere in the wake of conflict.

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.

INSIGHT: The globalisation of mass communication and the permeation of the internet into almost all aspects of society has further enabled serious societal threats to exploit and target citizens, businesses and, through the emergence of online terrorism, democratic ideals. Professor Babak Akhgar FBCS, Director of CENTRIC (Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence & Organised Crime Research) highlights the challenges and introduces a new multi-disciplinary research and innovation project which seeks to address them.

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

ANALYSIS: The publication of the latest crime statistics generated intense media scrutiny of police performance, with headlines focused on poor detection rates or outcomes. Former Greater Manchester Police ACC and regular Policing Insight contributor Ian Wiggett looks at the challenge of measuring how good the police are at detecting crime.

INSIGHT: Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used by investigators but its role in policing is poorly understood, both inside the community and in society at large. Clare Elford Managing Director of Clue, sheds some light on this increasingly important tool

Analysis: In 2012, there were nearly 62,000 scrap metal thefts in the UK. By 2016, this had fallen to around 16,000. Research economist with the London School of Economics Professor Tom Kirchmaier examines how a combination of policing, legislation changes and global commodity prices impacted the crime.

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.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (formerly the IPCC) annual report on deaths in and following police custody.

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.

Analysis: UK policing shares many of the same challenges as their colleagues around the world. In its report - Policing in a Networked World, PwC analysed six countries: Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom to identify the key challenges that the police are facing, and how police organisations are responding to those challenges. The following is an abridged version of the report.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at HMICFRS' fourth inspection of the National Crime Agency which, overall, finds an effective and efficient service, whilst highlighting areas for improvement.