Interview

INTERVIEW: The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 12th February. Anti-terror law expert Professor Emeritus Clive Walker QC (Hon), the Specialist Senior Advisor to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, explains to Policing Insight the provisions of the new laws and the amendments made to existing powers.

INTERVIEW: The terror attack in New Zealand has exposed fault lines in the prevention of extreme right-wing related terrorism. Ahead of the forthcoming review of the UK’s Prevent strategy, researcher Neda Richards talks to Policing Insight about the findings of her unique research analysing preventative counter-terrorism policing and the impact of community engagement on public cooperation.

INTERVIEW: New technology is accelerating the police service's ability to respond to the challenge of policing in a digital age, but Matthew Cooper, Global Offering Management Director at Hitachi Vantara tells Policing Insight the service should demand more from the different IT suppliers.

Interview: Police Now's training credentials are well established, having trained hundreds of young graduates in neighbourhood policing roles since 2015. Now the Home Office is looking to the organisation to help solve the shortage of detectives, estimated to be around 5,000. Is Police Now up to the task?

Interview: CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey revealed the depth of discontent among frontline officers and staff with their ICT provision, but what also emerged was a lack of consultation with some users before they are given a new piece of 'kit'. Police Federation lead on technology Simon Kempton argues the frontline should have a greater say in IT procurement decisions for the benefit of the public, police and suppliers.

INTERVIEW: Child death is such a complex area of policing that it has its own sub group within the NPCC Homicide Working Group. As it prepares for its annual conference, NPCC lead on child death Det Chief Supt Eamonn Bridger explains the challenges of investigating this difficult area of policing.

Interview: The Centre for Justice Innovation has published what it says is the most complete survey of point-of-arrest diversion schemes in England and Wales which are intended to tackle low level criminal behaviour. Research Officer Carmen Robin-D'Cruz brings us up to speed on the current provision in England and Wales.

Interview: Those working in this area are familiar with the concept of the 'revolving door' of crime. Burcu Borysik, Policy Manager for Revolving Doors Agency which has just launched a new project, says Police and Crime Commissioners are key to helping break the cycle.

INTERVIEW: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has launched a major new TV campaign for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to be heard at the Truth Project. Head of Truth Project and Strategy Helen Ryan and Chris Tuck, a member of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel and a survivor of child sexual abuse, explain the importance of the Project. 

INTERVIEW: As the Police ICT Summit gets underway this week, Police ICT Company CEO Ian Bell talks to Policing Insight about the challenges he's faced in his first year in the role and what the future holds for Police ICT.

Interview: The cost of scamming in online market places is estimated to be almost £1.7 billion with victims losing £65, on average, although that figure rises to over £90 for older victims. Policing Insight speaks to the UK Head of Marketing and Customer Services for Gumtree – Britain’s market leading online classified ads platform – about the effort that online marketplaces can make to protect their users and how the police can help.  

Interview: On the eve of this year's Police ICT Summit Policing Insight talks to one of this year's exhibitors, Simon Hall who is the co-founder and CEO of Coeus Software, about the barriers to police ICT and how their technology reflects the Policing Vision 2025. 

Interview: Following the rogue drone chaos at Gatwick Airport last month, Policing Insight asks international drone detection expert Professor Garik Markarian of Lancaster University, and CEO of Rinicom Ltd, to explain the operational challenges of detecting illegal drone activity and how authorities can develop their capabilities to prevent further incidents.

Interview: Mental ill health still carries a stigma and officers and staff, reluctant to admit they might be struggling, often don't know where to turn. Policing Insight speaks to Judith Broug, the co-founder of the App Backup Buddy, about the barriers to seeking support and how Backup Buddy can help.

Interview: Police users have been complaining for years about the fact that systems can’t talk to each other: it’s also been a recurring complaint in Policing Insight’s police ICT user survey. Now a group of suppliers have come forward to say that things don’t need to be this way and the solution is surprisingly simple. Here, Policing Insight talks to one of them, Clare Elford, Managing Director of Clue which supplies investigation case management software to many forces and other organisations.

INTERVIEW: New Zealand's crime rate has decreased drastically in recent years after the police commissioner shifted the focus from prosecution to prevention. Mary Calam, a senior expert in McKinsey’s London office, and Roland Dillon, an associate partner in McKinsey's Melbourne office, interviewed New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush on how the force achieved this remarkable transformation.

INTERVIEW: University of East London (UEL) journalism students and Samosa Media have produced a film exploring Prevent, the Government’s anti-radicalisation strategy. Anwar Akhtar, the film’s producer and founder of Samosa Media tells Policing Insight why the film was made and the impact he is hoping it will have.

INTERVIEW: The National Apprenticeship Scheme is an alternative route for young people to progress into a rewarding career. For 18 year old Rebecca Suddaby, a one year administration apprenticeship at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Humberside has led to her gaining valuable experience to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer. We speak with Rebecca to hear her story….

Interview: As Rob Wainwright leaves his post as director of Europol to take up a new role with Deloitte, he tells Policing Insight how better intelligence sharing has changed the face of cross- border counter-terror and child sexual exploitation investigations and how it could do the same for financial crime.

Interview: Vanessa Soames, Graduate Recruitment Director, at Police Now, has spent nearly 18 years working in student recruitment. She joined Police Now two years ago, where she developed a new recruitment campaign to attract diverse graduates into policing, especially graduates who would never have thought of joining the police. She tells Policing Insight about the campaign and why the Police Service needs it.

INTERVIEW: Director of Staff Absence Solutions Ltd Mark Eastwood has worked in the rail industry for many years treating employees following traumatic rail-related incidents. Now working with police forces, Mr Eastwood tells Policing Insight how, with the right support, officers and staff can recover from psychological and physiological conditions caused by work.

INTERVIEW: Exclusive: Greater collaboration and more licensing agreements are high on the new head of the Police ICT Company’s to-do list. CEO Ian Bell outlines the direction of travel for the company.

INTERVIEW: Dr Louise Newson, also known as the Menopause Doctor, has worked with West Midlands Police to produce a booklet about the menopause. She tells Policing Insight why it is so important for organisations like the police to understand the impact of the menopause on their workforce.

INTERVIEW: HMICFRS recently highlighted Gwent Police for its innovative approach to police training when it became the first force to use virtual reality technology for routine officer training. Mick Keyte, Director at Detect Deter Defend Limited and Tim Luft Director of Virtual Reality Simulation Systems worked with Gwent Police to implement the technology. Mick Keyte explains its benefits.