Analysis

ANALYSIS: The chief constables of Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police have announced plans to explore further collaboration and closer working between the two forces including the possibility of a full merger. Ian Wiggett looks at what has changed since the failed force mergers plan of 2005

EXCLUSIVE SURVEY ANALYSIS: Many forces are just beginning to explore the potential and possibilities of police drone operations. The latest CoPaCC Thematic Report "Drones in Policing" surveyed drone use by UK police forces. Tina Orr-Munro analyses the results showing the extent of current capabilities and how they are being deployed

ANALYSIS: The latest of a monthly series in which CoPaCC's Sandra Andrews takes a look at some of the most interesting and topical issues that Police and Crime Panels across England and Wales are dealing with. This month, Sandra looks at anti-social behaviour (ASB) in London, and the difficulties in building multi-agency responses.

Analysis: Can greater oversight of the police complaints system bring about more public confidence and improve the way cases of discrimination are handled? Syreeta Lund writes.

POLICING INSIGHT EXCLUSIVE: The second of our exclusive and remarkably revealing extracts from Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops? by Dr Mark Roycroft, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East Anglia, explores the paucity of applications for the role of Chief Constable, as well as Chief Constables' concerns regarding the value of the direct entry recruitment scheme.

ANALYSIS: Last week, the policy think tank Reform published their report on the digital future of policing, to considerable controversy. Here, serving officer Nathan Constable and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argue the report is lacks evidence, academic rigour, coherence, and a basic understanding of what policing is, what people want from it, or how it is held to account.

Policing Insight EXCLUSIVE: Policing Insight has secured the exclusive rights to publish extracts from Dr Mark Roycroft's new book, "Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops?", due to be published next month. In this first extract, Dr Roycroft, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East Anglia, examines what PCCs think of Chief Constables - and vice versa.

Analysis: With digital crime accounting for nearly half of all crime, police officers and staff need the right skills to tackle it. As Reform publishes its latest report - Bobbies on the Net - one of its authors, Reform Researcher Emilie Sundorph, examines the changes required to make forces fit to fight digital crime.

Insight: Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, David Lloyd, is working on ambitious plans to include so-called Honour Based Abuse (HBA) in future victims’ services to be delivered via Hertfordshire’s victim care centre – Beacon. Whilst reports of these crimes are rare in Hertfordshire it is likely that there is a significant number of victims that the police and other agencies are unaware of.  All victims deserve support and there is clear determination to develop a multi-agency approach to ensure that they can get it.

ANALYSIS: The ninth in a monthly series in which CoPaCC's Sandra Andrews takes a look at some of the most interesting and topical issues that Police and Crime Panels across England and Wales are dealing with. This month, Sandra looks at HMIC's inspections, force and PCC responses, and how Panels cope with often conflicting views on how their forces are performing.

Insight: West Midlands Police have reported increases in both shootings and fatal stabbings. As the force steps up its enforcement tactics, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and his office are playing an equally vital role in helping to combat violent crime. 

Analysis: Body worn cameras are becoming the new normal in policing, but when it comes to attending incidents involving those with mental health problems, officers need to be aware of the challenges. Police Inspector Michael Brown, author of Mental Health Cop Blog, explores the issues. 

Analysis: With forces exhibiting an increasing appetite to share data, the Police Foundation recently held the second in a series of policy dinners in partnership with KPMG to examine the issue in greater depth. Attended by key stakeholders and academics, the meeting explored how data-sharing can be improved. Liz Crowhurst, former Policy Officer at the Police Foundation, summarises the main findings in a policy document.

ANALYSIS: Recent 'lone wolf' terrorist attacks have been ascribed to extremist Islamism - but is this a fair way of describing the ideology that motivates these attackers? Serving officer Martin Gallagher argues it's time to think about what the attackers really want, rather than the religion to which they claim adherence.

ANALYSIS: The recent trend in crime figures appears to be heading downwards, but police forces are under more pressure than ever before. Sam Langton of Manchester Metropolitan University calls for increased collaboration between forces and academia to get more realistic estimations of the demands that police face.

ANALYSIS: In the second of a series of special articles examining the progress of Police and Crime Commissioners as they assume joint governance over police and fire services in their areas, Catherine Levin reports on significant activity over the last two months including a PCC withdrawing from the process, publication of the highly critical Avon FRA inspection report and six PCCs surging ahead with their plans.

ANALYSIS: Rural crime is often underestimated by those in urban areas, but can be devastating to those who are victims. Syreeta Lund explores the true impact of rural crime and what police are doing to try to combat its threat.

ANALYSIS: 'Excited delirium' is increasingly used to describe those presenting as violent and unmanageable who often end up in police custody. David Baker of Coventry University explores whether the term is a convenient fiction or a useful shorthand for a dangerous set of symptoms.

ANALYSIS: It is an undeniable fact that victims of stalking are more likely to receive protection and have their allegations investigated more thoroughly, with a greater probability of a successful prosecution, in Scotland than they are elsewhere in the United Kingdom.  Why should that be?  How has Scotland’s approach been more progressive? Former President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie describes the Scottish approach

INSIGHT: HMIC becomes HMICFRS - Catherine Levin looks beyond the ungainly acronym to what this means for the newly expanded organisation and reviews reaction from police, fire and local government.

Analysis: Officers have always gathered evidence, but now that technological advances have placed digital evidence from multiple sources at the core of investigations, the challenge for forces is how to gather, store and share massive amounts of data. Is the cloud the solution?

ANALYSIS: As we await the announcement of the latest Police Transformation Fund awards, Dr Iain Britton - a CoPaCC Director focusing on police transformation funding and delivery - shares some thoughts on the current approach and future direction of national investment in 'transforming' policing.

Insight: In 2015, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) published a report outlining the direction the service was taking in terms of digitising its investigation and intelligence capabilities. Two years on and one force is making encouraging progress. 

Analysis: The Scottish Police Authority was established four years ago to oversee the newly-formed Police Scotland, but, in that time, the authority has faced intense criticism. Former President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie takes a closer look at the problems the Authority has faced.