Features

OPINION: Bernard Rix, CoPaCC's Chief Executive, reflects on the Body Worn Video seminar at the University of Cambridge's "Festival of Ideas", and asks how many forces are ready to make changes to their complaints handling processes.

OPINION: ‘Vulnerable’ is one of the most frequently used words in policing today. Ch Supt Paul Griffiths, Vice President of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, considers policing's approach to vulnerable individuals.

OPINION: Part of the role of @wecops since its inception has been to provide a way for front line officers to have an open debate about key issues - and for that to be picked up by senior leadership. Last week's debate on the National Crime Agency (NCA) offered exactly that opportunity. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University summarises the debate, hosted by Director General of the NCA Lynne Owens.

OPINION: Is the criminal justice system stuck in the 19th century? Sussex PCC Katy Bourne looks at how PCCs have made their presence felt since taking over from Police Authorities in November 2012, and explains how she is using her power and influence to give victims and witnesses access to swifter justice.

ANALYSIS: Police forces are increasingly pursuing digital transformation, and encouraging more web-based interaction between police and the public. But how secure are the websites on which those interactions are taking place? Rory Geoghegan of the Centre for Public Safety assesses the state of UK police forces' public-facing digital infrastructure.

ANALYSIS: Body-worn cameras for police officers are being rolled out globally, but until recently, limited evidence was available as to their effects. In one of the largest randomised-controlled trials in criminal justice history, the University of Cambridge and RAND Europe have recently published several papers looking at the new technology - with some surprising results. Alex Sutherland of RAND Europe outlines the findings and their implications.

OPINION: With increasing numbers of serving police officers undertaking academic study - perhaps for the first time - the College of Policing has set up a new Academic Support Network through POLKA. Dr Ian Hesketh outlines why 'pracademics' might need a source of mutual support, and what the new network can offer.

OPINION: Academics and police are working increasingly closely - but what are the practicalities of such partnerships? How do they evolve over time? Layla Skinns explores some of the issues ahead of next week's international conference at the University of Sheffield, Working with the Police on Policing.

OPINION: Lincolnshire Police made headlines last month after PCC Marc Jones announced he would be advertising internationally for its new chief constable. Local resident and policing commentator Cate Moore sings the praises of the force and calls for an energetic moderniser to step up to the plate.

OPINION: What is the proper relationship between police and academia? Could a focus on 'what works' endanger the development of reflective practice? And could the growth in programmes being offered by universities in police-related subjects risk the commodification of policing? Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University examines the evolving relationship between policing and the academy.

ANALYSIS: How is policing responding to the challenges of digital crime? Giles Herdale of the National Police Chiefs' Council lays out the three priority areas that will fundamentally change policing and ready it for the challenges of policing by consent in a digital age.

OPINION: Many police forces are exploring the possibilities of cloud-based data management, but can face significant barriers to implementation - not least budgetary restraints. However, James Slessor of Accenture argues that next-generation policing will depend on the capabilities that cloud technology will offer.

ANALYSIS: CoPaCC's Chief Executive, Bernard Rix, takes a look at the likely candidates for Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's successor as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service - and invites your views

ANALYSIS: Do we really understand unconscious bias in police recruitment? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs argues that 'weak' social ties with serving officers can predict applicants' success in the police recruitment process, potentially undermining attempts to widen the diversity of police forces.

OPINION: The House of Commons Justice Select Committee in September published its report on restorative justice. Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg welcomes the report, and outlines the way that Durham has led on the development of restorative approaches.

OPINION: CoPaCC Director, John Tizard, reflects on CoPaCC's recent "Brexit: Implications for policing and security" event supported by leading law firm Fieldfisher. Many policing stakeholders contributed to the seminar discussion, including PCCs, Deputy PCCs, OPCC staff, senior and former police officers, national policing agency and government departmental officials.

OPINION: With shrinking budgets, the police are being asked to make hard choices about their priorities. Following last week's Excellence in Policing conference, Rick Muir of the Police Foundation argues that if we are to close the expectations gap, the police need to engage in a major exercise in public education.

OPINION: Under the current funding model, Lincolnshire is projected to face a £6 million shortfall within the next three years - more than the entire pay bill for all of the force's PCSOs. Chief Constable Neil Rhodes outlines the urgent need for an interim solution.

OPINION: Self-leadership and resilience expert Kim Adams provides an Australian perspective on policing leadership, drawing on a professional career in performance and evaluation psychology plus eight years leading research and evaluation for the Queensland Police Service.

OPINION: Brian Langston, retired Assistant Chief Constable and former member of the National Black Police Association Executive writes that the current quest for representative 'Identity' diversity in the police service is misguided and unachievable, and it should be replaced with 'Cognitive' diversity.

OPINION: Some months ago, Jenna Bradley (one of the @wecops team) asked her fellow students for suggestions for an upcoming @wecops debate. Jonny Blackwell, a Chief Inspector for West Yorkshire Police responsible for Safeguarding, suggested Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University summarises the debate, hosted by Jonny and fellow volunteer Danielle Williams.

BREXIT - Implications for policing: Former ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde's keynote speech to the CoPaCC "Brexit: Implications for policing and security" event on Wednesday, 14th September 2016

ANALYSIS: Ian Wiggett, CoPaCC Director and former Greater Manchester Police ACC, reflects on the learning from CoPaCC's "Brexit: Implications for policing and security" event last week, and asks PCCs and police chiefs, "What is the plan?"

ANALYSIS: The HMIC recently released their report on public confidence in policing - and at first glance it seems good news. However, Dr Kevin Morrell of Warwick University and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argue that there are a number of issues with the methodology and analysis of the research that means we cannot be entirely confident in reported confidence in the police.