Opinion

OPINION: Demand - and crime levels, particularly violent crime - are up, while police officers are under ever growing pressure. Chief Superintendent John Sutherland says it's past time for a proper, grown-up conversation about the future of policing in the UK

INSIGHT: There was a real gap in the provision of independent information to victims about where best they could find support, and also a lack of opportunity for victims to leave objective feedback that would help others choose the most appropriate services. Sam Smith of Supporting Justice talks about the launch of Victims Choice to fill the gap.

Insight: CCTV is a vital part of police investigations, but retrieving it can be laborious and time-consuming. Sarah Doyle, MD and co-founder of Kinesense explores the issues and discusses the value of having a video evidence strategy.

Insight: The cost of cybercrime to business is almost incalculable. As criminals exploit the speed, convenience and anonymity of the internet – the cost is shared by government, commerce and individuals and these expenses are unexpected, unbudgeted and often take a toll beyond just money. Bromium EMEA CTO Fraser Kyne explores the investigative tools available to the police.

OPINION: The High Court recently issued a judgment with significant implications for the power of Police and Crime Commissioners to suspend (and potentially dismiss) Chief Constables. The Police Foundation's Director, Dr Rick Muir, considers the evidence.

OPINION: Human trafficking and modern-day slavery are international organised crimes that affect communities on a local level. Andy Staniforth, Head of West Yorkshire for Innovation, describes the work that West Yorkshire Police together with European partners, academia and other partners to find new ways to tackle these crimes.

OPINION: What are police forces chasing when they seek greater diversity? And is it enough to focus on the percentages? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs argues it's time to return to first principles: diversity isn't about numbers but about legitimacy.

Opinion: Victims of repeated harassment or stalking are frequently let down by under-recording, inconsistent services and a lack of understanding by the criminal justice system, according to a recent report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). Rachel Griffin, Chief Executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust calls for better awareness within the criminal justice system.

OPINION: Recent weeks have seen the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) mired in controversy bordering on farce. Kath Murray examines the state of the SPA and warns that it must be made properly accountable to Parliament, and its ties to government ministers weakened.

OPINION: Senior police officers have traditionally been reluctant to comment on issues that stray into political territory. However, the recent general election saw several senior officers break with this to publicly highlight the damage caused by budget cuts. Chief Supt Owen West applauds their openness.

Technology: More and more UK forces are under pressure to move away from using insecure social media apps like WhatsApp towards a secure police-wide communications platform. Andy Lilly, Director and Co-Founder of Armour Communications, explores the issue.

Opinion: Retired Metropolitan Police Service Detective Superintendent Paul Downing is the former head of the MPS Crime Academy Intelligence Faculty. He argues intelligence training has been marginalised in recent years and is failing to keep pace with the changing times.

Opinion: Based on thirty years policing experience and his academic research with the University of Portsmouth, Mark Taylor offers an ethical alternative to the College of Policing’s National Decision Model (NDM) currently used in the police service.  

Insight:  A survey carried out by the College of Policing earlier this year revealed Police and Crime Commissioners were concerned about the lack of applicants for chief officer roles. In response, the College launched a series of initiatives looking at the barriers to applying, but also what experience and qualifications tomorrow's police leaders will need. Giselle Lockett, the College Lead for Professional Development, updates Policing Insight on the College's progress.

OPINION: Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, argues that it's time to restore the balance in police funding.

Opinion: Former Chief Executive to the London Criminal Justice Board Andrew Morley was a member of the original team behind the Virtual Court initiative. Ten years on, he says the opportunities presented by Virtual Courts have not been realised and there now needs to be a different approach if the benefits are to be achieved. 

OPINION: Much has been written on body-worn video and its potential to reduce complaints and enhance police legitimacy. Former Senior Investigating Officer Andy Griffiths argues that BWV also challenges the criminal justice system's reliance on memory - and that it should encourage us to look again at what problems the current system is set up to solve.

OPINION: Serving officer Nathan Constable reflects on last week's Canterbury Police Research Centre conference, and highlights the need for people to translate between academia and policing, explaining not just the passion for reform but the purpose.

OPINION: Last week the second annual Canterbury Police Research Centre conference took place, with the title: ‘Learning from Evidence: Mission impossible?’ Emma Williams of CCCU explores the themes that emerged and the challenges posed by speakers and practitioners.

Opinion: Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice for the Centre for Social Justice, says recent unprecedented pressure on the police service could lead to more funding for the service.

Opinion: Confirmation bias runs at a subconscious level and occurs at all times, often harmlessly, but when it is applied to the world of investigation, it can present challenges for the investigator. Neil Beet, Managing Director, Blue Lights Digital, explores confirmation bias in digital investigations and how to mitigate against it.

ELECTION REACTION: In the latest of our exclusive articles following the General Election, Durham PCC Ron Hogg identifies seven specific ways in which the Government's approach to policing must now change, and calls on Chief Officers, HMIC and fellow PCCs to be afforded "greater traction within the debate".

ELECTION REACTION: Continuing our series of exclusive articles following the result of the General Election, former Chief Constable Stuart Hyde suggests "now is the time to reach out, canvass and cajole, influence and inform, to seek some remedy to the lack of police funding"

ELECTION REACTION: In the first of a series of exclusive articles following the result of the General Election, Dafydd Llywelyn, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys discusses the implications for the review of the police funding formula.