Analysis

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.

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.

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.

Long Read: In the second of our three-part series on cyber crime and its effects on  UK policing, CEO and co-founder of Cyber Security Intelligence Alfred Rolington offers a detailed insight into the current cyber crime landscape and how UK policing is managing the threat.

ANALYSIS: The scale of the challenge involved in protecting the UK's borders is unprecedented. Professor Babak Akhgar of Sheffield Hallam University explains how the work of Project ROBORDER - testing innovative surveillance technologies - could help border security address emerging threats.

ANALYSIS: In late 2015, coercive control became a criminal offence in England and Wales, but the number of convictions have been low. Now a team at Lancaster University led by Dr Charlotte Barlow have developed a new tool to help train police officers to help victims of the new offence.

Project Galileo: In the second in our series on Project Galileo and its pioneering approach to reducing harm on our roads, team member Andy Dollin (Chief Operating Officer, Tonic Analytics Limited) discusses how lessons from the aerospace industry are helping to demonstrate the value of big data to enable new insights that result in more effective and efficient operations - and can ultimately lead to better outcomes through targeted and more proactive actions underpinned by predictive analytics.

ANALYSIS: Neighbourhood Policing guidelines were issued by the College of Policing last week. Andy Higgins of the Police Foundation argues they are not just important for policing on the ground: their success or failure will tell us a lot about the capacity of our national policing infrastructure to deliver real reform.

Analysis: Revolving Doors Agency, together with Barrow Cadbury Trust and Transition to Adulthood Alliance, publishes a new report Spotlight on Substance Misuse which looks at how PCCs reduce alcohol and drug addiction and reduce crime in their local areas.

ANALYSIS: Accenture’s 2018 Technology Vision research has identified five key technology trends that have the potential to transform policing and public safety. James Slessor, Managing Director of Accenture Public Safety, explains the findings.

ANALYSIS: Body-worn video cameras (BWC) are increasingly standard issue in British police forces, with a range of potential benefits. Stuart Lister of the University of Leeds outlines findings from recent research into the use of BWCs in domestic abuse incidents - and how the benefits of BWCs may be limited by organisational constraints.

ANALYSIS: One year on from the launch of the Policing Insight series looking at PCCs and fire governance, Catherine Levin finds that the road to fire governance is fraught with obstacles and these will likely discourage other PCCs from following any time soon.

Analysis: Mental health researcher and practitioner Dr Jane McGregor is currently writing a book on coping with stress in the emergency services. Her interviews with police officers reveal problems of morale, overwork and high stress which mean many are considering quitting the service. 

SPOTLIGHT ON: Policing Insight has over a thousand in depth articles on a wide range of policing issues. SPOTLIGHT ON is a new series which groups articles under one subject heading allowing you quick and easy reference when you need it. Here, we tackle facial recognition technology which recently hit the headlines raising questions and concerns as to its role in policing.

INSIGHT: Our new series, exclusive to Policing Insight, examines the impact of cyber-crime on UK policing. In the first of three articles, CEO and co-founder of Cyber Security Intelligence Alfred Rolington explores the '4th Industrial Revolution' and the factors leading to the emergence of cyber-crime.

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's State of Policing report which is HMCIC Sir Thomas Winsor's assessment of the current effectiveness and efficiency of policing based on the Peel Inspections carried out last year.

ANALYSIS: Organised crime has been glamourised by fictional portrayals, and many people don't believe it affects their daily life. However, real-life organised crime flourishes in vulnerable, fractured communities. Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith of the University of Stirling explores the reality of organised crime in Scotland.

ANALYSIS: The proposed absorption of British Transport Police into Police Scotland appears to be steaming ahead regardless of unresolved problems, deep opposition from BTP officers, and ever-increasing reputational risks. Independent researcher Dr Kath Murray and Dr Colin Atkinson of the University of the West of Scotland explain the ongoing issues.

ANALYSIS: More than three quarters of shop theft and burglaries are carried out by drug-addicted offenders - but many existing sanctions like short-term prison sentences have little effect. Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice for the Centre for Social Justice, calls for a new two-year 'Second Chance' programme in a new report, Desperate for a Fix.

Analysis: The National Speed Awareness Course is offered by nearly all police forces in England and Wales and provides eligible offending drivers with a short course of retraining as an alternative to punishment for low-level speeding offences, but does it work? Researcher Sarah Heseltine takes a look at the findings of the DfT's recent evaluation.

ANALYSIS: In the final extract from Vigilant Research’s in depth report on police futures technology, Director Stephen Roberts explores the threat from future technology-enabled criminality.

ANALYSIS: The Scottish town of Paisley has experienced troubling increases in violent crime over the past year, prompting a robust response from the local division of Police Scotland. Martin Gallagher and Del Middleton, two of the architects of this response, provide the context and outline of this policing initiative. Dr Colin Atkinson of the University of the West of Scotland reflects upon the impact of this work for local communities and, importantly, for the police service itself.

ANALYSIS: In an age of unpredictable terrorist attacks, how can the emergency services ensure that they are fully prepared? Dr Nicola Power and Olivia Brown of Lancaster University, and Dr Laura Boulton of the University of Central Lancashire, explain how the lessons from last year's Manchester attack can be applied on the ground.