Features

OPINION: Many sections of the media have been quick to blame ‘covidiots’ for the spread of COVID-19, and equally quick to back a police crackdown; but former chief superintendent Owen West, a Research Fellow at Keele University, says the evidence suggests the media narrative is false, and that the 'get tough' approach is part of a wider politicisation of policing that could do long-term damage to the police-public relationship.

OPINION: Police and governments are investing heavily in public safety technology, but as result frontline responders are often faced with vast amounts of data when trying to assess ongoing incidents; Kalyn Sims of computer-aided dispatch specialists Hexagon believes assisted artificial intelligence could be the key to rapid, real-time analysis of data.

OPINION: Coverage of protesters storming the Capitol Building in Washington DC was watched around the world, with many questioning the ease with which rioters gained entry to the heart of federal government; Tom Nolan, Associate Professor of Sociology at Emmanuel College, Boston, believes the events of the day will be viewed by many experts as ‘an international embarrassment for American law enforcement’.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Policing in the UK is regarded as a benchmark for the rest of the world. So dealing effectively with evolving criminality and cybercrime, along with increasing complex digital evidence, is vital if the UK is to remain a beacon of excellence.

FEATURE: New Zealand has faced a significant challenge in tackling domestic violence, but a new multi-agency, holistic approach to ‘family harm’ – centred around Te Taanga Manawa, the new multi-disciplinary hub pioneered in South Auckland – could lead to much greater success in meeting that challenge, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: In 2020 the UK took a number of steps to strengthen its resilience and defence against cyber attack, at a time when millions more people began working remotely; but as Policing Insight's Andy Staniforth reports, despite the efforts of law enforcement and security agencies, the cyber threat landscape still looks pretty bleak.

OPINION: Embarking on academic study is challenging, particularly for anyone with a specific learning difficulty and few formal educational qualifications; but with the right support from policing and academia, real achievement is possible, explains Essex Police Sgt Ben Forbes, British Citizen Award winner and now First-Class BSc Honours graduate.

FEATURE: With public confidence in policing high on the agenda of many forces, Dubai Police has developed new initiatives around citizen focus, community engagement and victim support to help deliver greater customer satisfaction; Dubai Police consultant Jorge Román and Captain Dr Abdullah Al Shaikh, Head of the force’s Victim Support Programme, explain the approach.

OPINION: Nigerian public protests against the country's notorious SARS police, led largely by young people, seemed to secure a victory when President Buhari agreed to disband the unit; but any sense of celebration has turned sour, with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) appearing to be a new label for an old institution, says Duke University Assistant Professor Samuel Fury Childs Daly.

OPINION: The announcement in November of a multi-million pound counter-terror centre for the UK which brings together police and the security services was rightly welcomed; but as Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth reports, moving forwards the relationship between community policing and counter-terrorism will be crucial to negating the wide array of terrorist and extremist threats.

FEATURE: The death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests have focused attention on race and policing around the world, including in the UK; now a new report by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has highlighted existing and ongoing efforts to tackle racial disparity and disproportionality in policing, as Policing Insight's Tina Orr Munro reports.

OPINION: COVID-19 has undoubtedly placed significant pressures on UK policing, but the unique environment, coupled with advances in technology and continuing recruitment efforts, have also created potential benefits; Boyd Mulvey, founder and CEO of Chorus Intelligence Ltd, explores the threats and opportunities presented by the pandemic.

ANALYSIS: There's a common belief that cybercriminals are typically operating in organised crime groups, and are well rewarded for their efforts; but new research by Dr Roberto Musotto of Edith Cowan University and Professor David Wall of the University of Leeds suggests that in reality they are more like business workers, usually achieving relatively low returns.

OPINION: The balance between professional judgement in policing and following an ethical framework is a delicate one. However, Dr Emma Williams argues that too much focus on consistent professional standards can not only stifle discretion, but can lead to moral distress when officers find that guidance challenges their own moral judgements.

OPINION: While much has rightly been made of the impact of the UK leaving the EU in relation to information sharing and legislative powers, far less has been discussed about how Brexit could affect innovation collaborations between UK and European policing partners; and as Policing Insight's Andy Staniforth suggests, maintaining such partnerships will need to be a policing priority.

OPINION: Steve Ainsworth, Director of Operational Safety at Northgate Public Services, argues that taking a less linear approach to the chain of custody could help forces use forensic evidence in a more proactive way.

INNOVATION: The National Enabling Programmes (NEP) have been working with UK police forces to provide new technology over the past four years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has provided fresh impetus to the transformation, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: When drones piloted by rogue operators targeted Gatwick Airport in 2018, the costs of the resulting disruption, delays, closures and investigations are estimated to have exceeded £50 million; the incident also acted as a wake-up call for the aviation and security industries, as Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth reports.

OPINION: There are calls for a return to ‘pre-charge bail’ in the UK, which was radically changed and widely replaced by ‘released under investigation’ conditions in 2017; but Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice, fears the move is being driven by assumptions rather than research or real evidence about what is most effective.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS: Our Publisher, Bernard Rix, reflects on Policing Insight’s last 12 months, sets out our Christmas and New Year schedule, and takes a look on what we’re planning for 2021...

OPINION: For those still having to deal with the pandemic and police the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions, festive good wishes seem strangely out of place; perhaps, as Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter suggests, the best we can hope for is a lockdown-induced, crime-free Christmas, and – when it finally arrives – a well-deserved break.

Top Articles 2020: Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter leads the team in selecting their favourite articles published in 2020. The editorial team have each selected their ‘Top 10’ picks and we have made them freely available during the Christmas period for all users with at least a free registered account. We hope you enjoy our selections!

INTERVIEW: While many police organisations and leaders struggle to use social media effectively, Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley regularly engages in Twitter exchanges with the wider public, while also vlogging to his own staff; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to Mr Adderley about his online profile, his efforts to ensure openness, and why he believes good leaders need to ‘keep their hand in’.

FEATURE: The most recent @WeCops Twitter chat focused on domestic abuse and the impact of COVID-19, exploring issue around how the pandemic has changed the reporting and response, how partners and support agencies have coped, and what lessons police have learned; Thames Valley Police Superintendent and WeCops team member Katy Barrow-Grint pulls together the key points from the debate.