Opinion

Opinion: Travelling through France as the lockdown was announced, Tristram Hicks, a former detective superintendent and now a global consultant on organised international crime, money laundering and corruption, gives a personal account of how the French are enforcing the lockdown as the country attempts to counter the spread of Covid-19.

Opinion: A Crest Advisory report has revealed overwhelming support for the UK police's approach to policing the pandemic. Crisis Communication Consultant Amanda Coleman says now is the time to build community involvement into the communication strategy, laying the foundations for how the next generation view the police.

INTERVIEW: Norfolk Constabulary axed the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) role two years ago as part of a wider initiative to improve service delivery and reduce costs by 2020. Despite increased funding, the drive to recruit more officers and the NPCC and College of Policing's commitment to the role, Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey tells Policing Insight why PCs, not PCSOs, are the way forward.  

INTERVIEW: As cybercrime continues to rise, Policing Insight talks to Superintendent Rebecca Chapman, Director of the North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC), a unique partnership between police, big business and universities to help protect smaller businesses from the threat of online crime.

OPINION: Dr Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University provides her review of the #WeCops Twitter debate last week, examining UK police's response to the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.

Opinion: Whilst the police are highly adept at managing emergency calls, data on the many other reasons people call the police is lacking. Crisis Communication Consultant Amanda Coleman, who has more than twenty years experience in law enforcement communications, says it is this detail that is needed for a truly effective call-handling response.

Opinion: In her most recent blog, director of Transform Justice Penelope Gibbs considers the issue of police custody for adults who have been arrested and detained and offers suggestions on how to keep this to a minimum during the Covid-19 crisis.

OPINION: Deloitte's Public Safety lead in the Gulf region, Andrew Morley, examines how police and other public safety agencies in the Middle East might respond to Covid-19. There are already very significant demands placed upon these agencies in enforcing the critical public health measures introduced to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus - but is there more?

Opinion: Data is the 'oxygen' of decision-making and is potentially at its most powerful when it integrated with other data. Former Deputy Chief Constable and now strategic adviser on digital policing transformation Paul Kennedy and Managing Director of Microsoft software development company Black Marble Robert Hogg explore how forces can better integrate their data sets to improve outcomes.

OPINION: Andy Rhodes QPM is the Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, and the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for well being and staff engagement. Here, he provides his thoughts on the organisational impact of Covid-19 on policing and how leaders can make the coming weeks easier for their staff.

OPINION: Policing Insight's Publisher, Bernard Rix, considers whether the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic will irrevocably damage British policing's "policing by consent" model first set out by Sir Robert Peel in 1829. Can policing emerge all the stronger for the societal challenges the virus will bring?

Opinion: In the time of national emergency, it is vital the public understand what the police expect of them. Crisis Communication Consultant Amanda Coleman, who has more than twenty years experience in law enforcement communications, highlights ways to ensure the messaging is clear, consistent and regular.

Opinion: The police service is facing its greatest challenge in modern times and is likely to be under considerable strain in the coming months, but there is one group that can help shoulder the burden. CEO of Chorus Intelligence Boyd Mulvey says it is time for private sector police suppliers to step up.

Opinion: A new report highlights that Australia’s illicit drug use is rising. Despite policymakers’ best efforts, the country needs to be honest and open to new ideas, says Dr John Coyne, Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

OPINION: Policing Insight's Publisher, Bernard Rix, provides his personal perspective on the national, regional and international policing challenges that tackling Coronavirus will bring, and invites those others with policing insight on Coronavirus, wherever they may be in the world, to get in touch.

Opinion: In his second blog reflecting on his six-year tenure as Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Tony Porter gives an update on the progress of the National Surveillance Camera Strategy launched in March 2017.

Opinion: Technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) has incredible potential in the fight against knife crime, but the rate of implementation of AI in policing remains slow, says Jason Sierra, Sales Director of Seven Technologies Group (7TG). Here, he makes the case for the widespread use of AI in policing including helping to tackle knife crime.

Opinion: Former deputy chief constable and now strategic adviser for digital policing transformation Paul Kennedy and Robert Hogg, Managing Director of Black Marble, a Microsoft software development company, explore the opportunities for and challenges to artificial intelligence in policing.

INTERVIEW: Dr Holger Nitsch, from the Police Department of the University of Applied Sciences for Public Service in Bavaria, explains to Policing Insight the unique research and innovation collaborations between German and UK police forces to tackle the twin threats of cybercrime and terrorism.    

Opinion: The PCC elections are set to take place in May. Deloitte's fourth report into Police and Crime Commissioners is also due out the same month and will enable new and returning PCCs to optimise their role at a time of considerable change in policing. Deloitte's Frances Lysak explains the focus of this latest report.

Opinion: Former police officer and now The Bravest Path's Director Gareth Davies works with high profile organisations, including police forces, to help individuals 'shake off the shame' to find the courage to lead better, based on research by Dr Brené Brown. Here, using her research, he explores the role of shame in police culture and offers way to overcome it, increasing engagement, wellbeing and ultimately productivity.

Interview: Although Gloucestershire is a largely rural county with a lower than average violent crime rate, Gloucestershire PCC Martin Surl recently commissioned its largest ever study into violent crime. Policing Insight spoke to Chair of Safer Gloucestershire and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Brierley (pictured) to find out why and what the report revealed.

OPINION: With increased police funding providing opportunities for real change, CIPFA Chief Executive Rob Whiteman CBE argues that policing should be high on the agenda of the forthcoming royal commission on criminal justice system promised by the government.

INTERVIEW: Technology that helped former President Barack Obama secure a second term is now helping Durham Constabulary understand better what local communities really think about policing. CEO and co-founder of Elucd Michael Simon and Acting Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for Durham Steve White explain the potential the technology has for policing.