Analysis

INSIGHT: Small and medium size businesses struggle to get a foothold in supplying ICT to the police service. Police leaders joined this year's Govtech summit in Paris to examine ways for smaller businesses to make themselves heard in this sector.

INSIGHT: Fifteen European Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) have built a unique platform to create and share innovative solutions. Policing Insight contributor and Senior Research Fellow at CENTRIC Andrew Staniforth explains the importance of developing new ways to tackle technology-driven transnational crime.

Analysis: The Draft EU Withdrawal Agreement has finally been published and agreed by the Cabinet, but, while the political fall out continues, what does it mean for UK policing?

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) Ninth Report Session 2017-19 on Domestic Abuse published on October 22.

ANALYSIS: In some communities in Scotland, serious and organised crime is seen as a route to easy money and expensive cars. Associate Director of the Scottish Criminal Justice Research Centre Dr Alistair Fraser argues this is far from the reality and it's time to take a fresh approach to tackling organised crime.

ANALYSIS: So-called super recognisers are said to possess exceptional face recognition abilities, but are they really as super as they are made out to be? Emma Portch of Bournemouth University explores the evidence.

ANALYSIS: Why is it that some people thrive in conditions of uncertainty, but and others become extremely stressed? Dr Ian Hesketh, Wellbeing Lead for the College of Policing, and Chief Constable Andy Rhodes, NPCC Lead for Wellbeing and Engagement, put forward a short 'resilience prescription', suggesting the key characteristics of a mindset that can improve the ability to cope with a policing environment

ANALYSIS: 'County lines' drug dealing is a growing problem in the UK's small towns. However, it's also creating a hierarchy of exploitation - with its teenage drug dealers themselves near the bottom. Grace Robinson of Edge Hill University; James Densley of Metropolitan State University, and Robert McLean of Northumbria University explain the 'indentured labour' of the drugs trade.

ANALYSIS: In the final part of his series on mental health street triage, Daniel Moloney of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at the University of Northampton explains why collecting good data is so vital to understanding outcomes.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at the Scottish Police Authority’s report, Police Scotland Digital, Data & ICT (DDICT) Outline Business Case (OBC) published on September 27.

ANALYSIS: In the second of three blogs on mental health triage, Daniel Moloney of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at the University of Northampton explores how good practice and effective policies are developed on the ground

ANALYSIS: Mental health makes up an increasing part of demand on the police service, and various methods are being trialled to try to improve the police response, including triage. In the first of three blogs, Daniel Moloney of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at the University of Northampton examines factors affecting demand.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at HMICFRS’ Joint Inspection of the Handling of Cases Involving Disability Hate Crime and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, published this month (October 18).

ANALYSIS: There have been many more recruits to the police from minority ethnic, female, and gay and lesbian groups in recent decades - but to what extent has their experience mirrored that of their white, male colleagues? Irene Zempi of Nottingham Trent University examined police experiences of bias, prejudice and ‘hate’ inside the police service itself.

INSIGHT: Earlier this month, Lancashire Constabulary held a Blue Light Innovation Summit 2018 to explore the role of innovation in policing, but, in an environment of constrained budgets and mounting pressures, can the police service create the right environment to innovate?

Opinion: Brexit may appear to have dominated this year's annual party conferences, but Crest Advisory's Harry Redgrave says the conferences were also an opportunity to gauge the latest political thinking on the future of policing.

INSIGHT: The role of Chief Constable was once much sought after, but with the number of applicants per post slumping to an average of two per role and retention rates falling, there's no denying it has lost its attraction for many. In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, recently retired Chief Constable of Essex Stephen Kavanagh QPM explores the reasons.

INSIGHT: Published today, the "Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018" report includes articles providing a range of views on the results and what should happen next. Policing Insight's editor, Tina Orr Munro, here acknowledges that some progress on police ICT has been made since last year's survey - but widespread frustrations reveal the police service still has a very long way to go.

ANALYSIS: Policing is undergoing a profound transformation, but are forces ready for the changes they still have to make? Accenture recently surveyed over 300 policing professionals in six countries; Rachel Phillips and James Slessor of Accenture Public Safety explain their findings.

Analysis: The OU's Police Learning and Research Group, in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, has commissioned a study into how complex systems thinking can support police policy decision-making. GMP's Programme Director for Information Services Transformation Ch Supt Phil Davies explains how ‘synthetic intelligence’ could be a new frontier for policing.

ANALYSIS: There are growing financial and operational pressures on policing. Senior figures are calling for a new vision, but as the president of the PSA said earlier this month, there is a void at the centre - and no prospect of a Royal Commission to provide answers. The service can, however, start preparing options now. The themes that come up time and again are structure, accountability frameworks, and workforce. What is the service’s own future vision for these?

Analysis: Following catastrophic bush fires in 2009 which killed 173 people, Australia implemented a mobile phone alert system so the emergency services could directly contact and advise the public during a major incident. The system has already saved lives and has now been implemented in other countries, so why not the UK?

ANALYSIS: Understanding of evidence-based policing has come a long way, but many police leaders are still looking for a 'silver bullet' - strategies that will just work. Prof. Jerry Ratcliffe of Temple University explains why the silver bullets don't exist, but that EBP is still a valuable tool.

Analysis: Following concerns over the impact collaborations and alliances were having on superintendents' health and well-being, the Police Superintendents' Association conducted a survey. Vice President Paul Griffiths outlined the results at this year's conference that revealed - despite the toll on well-being - superintendents overwhelmingly back force amalgamations.