Opinion

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.

OPINION: In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on the UK, Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University says thank you to those officers who warned the public that police numbers were too low, and who are now working full stretch to protect us.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, Policing Insight's Publisher, with his thoughts on the key implications for policing following the three terrorist attacks, in Manchester and London, over the last three months.

Opinion: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is planned to become legislation in the United Kingdom on 25 May, 2018. The UK government has confirmed that the UK’s decision to leave the EU will have no impact on the enactment of the GDPR within the UK. Robert de Souza, Associate Partner at Chaucer Digital which works with the Home Office, the NPCC, Police ICT Company as well as police forces, explores the implications of this decision. 

OPINION: Do scripts - and other similar prescriptive frameworks - undermine police officers' ability to think for themselves? Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argues that officers need to be able to be human, and to make mistakes, and flags up CCCU's June conference on barriers to change.

Interview: Innovative work in Scotland has helped drastically drive down rates of violence, including knife crime. As England’s capital sees sharp increases in gun and knife crime, around 42 and 24 per cent,  according to recent figures released by the Metropolitan Police, can Scotland's experience shed light on how to tackle such a devastating crime? Will Linden, Acting Director at the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) which works with Police Scotland, speaks to Policing Insight.  

Interview: In our continuing series on Police and Crime Comissioners, Dyfed-Powys PCC Dafydd Llywelyn looks back on his first year in office.

OPINION: A serving police officer questioned the Prime Minister on the "devastating effects of police cuts" on last night's Channel 4 & Sky News "May v Corbyn" election programme. Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall's PCC, responds exclusively for Policing Insight with her perspective on police spending.

OPINION: Some vulnerable individuals can contact the police disproportionately often. Supt. Andrea Barrow and Prof. Stuart Kirby of the University of Central Lancashire explain how Lancashire Constabulary has worked together with partners to set up Early Action Teams to deal with vulnerable callers.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, Policing Insight's Publisher, with his personal thoughts on last night's attack in Manchester.

OPINION: What's in the general election manifestos on criminal justice - and more importantly, perhaps, what isn't? Will McMahon, Deputy Director at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, reads between the lines, and says it's time to look more closely at demand.

Interview: Chief Constable Mick Creedon QPM is set to retire from his role after 37 years as a police officer. In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, Mr Creedon talks about the impact of the Frank Beck investigation, 'virtual' neighbourhood policing and why the PCC system is flawed.

UK POLICE MEMORIAL: A transcript of Lord Stevens' speech to the Police Federation of England and Wales national conference 2017, calling for support for the new UK Police Memorial.

OPINION: Evidence-based policing is a focus of debate, including over what should count as evidence, and whether the Randomised Control Trial is over-valued. Prof. Kevin Morrell and Prof. Mark Learmonth of Durham University show how a limited definition of 'evidence' can damage understanding of the real world.

CONFERENCE: Are we on the cusp of a step change in policing? A two-day conference in Northampton is asking researchers, leaders, frontline officer and research-active practitioners to debate the issues. Supt Dave Hill, Programme Director for the East Midlands Police Academic Collaboration (EMPAC), explains the background.

OPINION: Officers taking a break have been in the news lately, with both positive and negative public responses. Serving officer Chris Excell summarises a recent @WeCops discussion on the vital need for officers to be able to take a break - publicly or privately - and the underlying issues of police welfare, stress and wellbeing in general.

Opinion: In our continuing series, Policing Insight talks to Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl about his achievements and the challenges he faces as he completes the first year of his second term in office.

OPINION: Ahead of manifesto launches and the Police Federation conference this week, Policing Insight editor Carina O'Reilly (also a Labour councillor) takes a look at what we can expect from the parties on policing – and whether what they promise matters.

OPINION: How will ongoing police reforms affect the Special Constabulary? Could their future include further integration with regulars - including the use of Taser? Dr Iain Britton, Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice, reflects on his attendance at the annual national conference of the Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers’ (ASCCO).

BOOK LAUNCH: "Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops?" is a new book by former Met Superintendent Mark Roycroft, now Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East London. Policing Insight Publisher Bernard Rix takes a look at a copy hot off the presses.