Opinion

OPINION: What do we think of when we think of police leadership? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs warns that traditional perceptions of how leaders look and behave may no longer be fit for purpose given the challenges facing policing.

OPINION: Many serving officers may feel that the College of Policing is a distant organisation, doing things to them, rather than for them. Serving officer Dan Reynolds makes a critical appraisal of the work of the College and how its work can be beneficial for officers on the ground.

Opinion: Former chief constable of the British Transport Police Andy Trotter OBE QPM, reflects on the terror attack that took place in London last week and the challenges it presents the service. 

OPINION: Following the attack on Westminster, the focus has rightly been on the bravery and sacrifice of the uniformed public services. But behind the scenes, the work of communications staff prevented the public's horror from turning into panic. Dan Slee of comms2point0 analyses the public sector comms response.

OPINION: Sir Hugh Orde, former PSNI Chief Constable and President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), provides a personal perspective on the Westminster attack, and identifies key challenges that police leaders now face.

OPINION: Ethnography has one of the longest traditions in police research. Dr Mike Rowe of Liverpool University explains how ethnographic research can offer an understanding of the work and role of police officers that other types of research cannot reach.

OPINION: If academia is serious about working with the police, does it need to make its research outputs more useful to those who might use them? Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University makes the case for integrating practitioners into the process of research at every level.

Opinion: Chief Superintendent Gordon Crossan, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, explores Police Scotland's draft 10-year plan and how its successful delivery will depend on the quality of its workforce, not on the quantity.

OPINION: NPCC lead for child protection, Simon Bailey, recently hit the headlines for suggesting police needed to focus limited resources on those who had physically abused children. Dr Natalie Mann of Anglia Ruskin University warns that those who view images often go on to abuse children, and what's needed is sufficient funding to treat all sex offenders equally.

OPINION: The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' (APCC) ‘Policing Vision 2025’ sets out a vision of transformational change across the whole of policing. Dr Stephen Brookes, Senior Fellow in Public Policy and Leadership at the University of Manchester, outlines the key leadership questions that will shape policing over the course of the next ten years.

OPINION: CoPaCC Chief Executive Bernard Rix takes a look at HMIC's approach to police inspections. He asks whether it's time for Parliament and the public to see how HMIC measures up against the very same Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy standards it applies in its own inspections of police forces.

OPINION: Taser has been a hot topic in recent weeks, with surveys suggesting that both police officers and the public want to see more Tasers on the streets. Steve White of the Police Federation argues that more open public engagement is needed - as well as sufficient resources - to make sure officers get the kit they need.

OPINION: Is policing losing a sense of its past? As a military historian who has worked closely with the US and UK military, and who has also had insight into UK policing, Dr Jill S. Russell is convinced of the value an ‘official history’ approach would bring to policing research, professional development, and policy.

OPINION: Last week's HMIC police effectiveness (PEEL) report painted a worrying picture about the state of policing. However, Gavin Hales of the Police Foundation argues the demands of HMIC may be impossible to meet for some forces - and that the report should be seen as a warning flag to the Home Office and Treasury that all is not well.

OPINION: Earlier this week, HMIC assessed Durham Constabulary the highest overall classification, "outstanding", in their national assessment of police effectiveness. Durham PCC Ron Hogg provides his personal perspective on the Inspection.

OPINION: With the Police and Crime Act 2017 receiving Royal Assent and the new statutory duty for the emergency services to collaborate coming into force in April, the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service hails the opportunities for the fire and rescue services to develop closer and stronger partnerships with policing

OPINION: Policing is being asked to move in two different directions at once: to grapple with geographically mobile crime, and to deal with increasingly complex issues requiring complex local solutions. Rick Muir of the Police Foundation makes a powerful case for deeper collaboration between agencies to tackle the challenges ahead.

OPINION: Earlier this month, Justice Minister Liz Truss announced the rebranding of the National Offenders' Management Service as Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Andrew Sperling of Olliers Solicitors warns that the new organisation needs to demonstrate real change - or the alterations announced amount to no more than putting lipstick on a pig.

OPINION: Taking on a 45,000-strong organisation, with a budget of more than £2.5 billion would stretch the most seasoned corporate executive - and the Met faces some serious challenges in the years ahead. Nick Alston of Anglia Ruskin University's Policing Institute for the Eastern Region warns that the role may be too demanding for any senior officer.

Opinion: Sir Hugh Orde OBE QPM, former chief constable of PSNI and head of what was then the Association of Chief Police Officers explores the challenges facing Cressida Dick, the newly-appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, and the skills and attributes she brings to the role.

OPINION: The use of spit hoods has become steeped in controversy in recent months. For officers, they are vital protection against contagious diseases such as HIV and Hep C, but for others they are primitive and are being introduced without proper consultation. Policing Insight takes a look at both sides of the debate with Ian Pointon, chairman of Kent Police Federation and leading human rights lawyer Chris Topping presenting opposing views.

OPINION: Cressida Dick has today been appointed as the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, replacing outgoing Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. Chief Superintendent John Sutherland takes an insider's look at what will be waiting in the new Commissioner's in-tray.

OPINION: With the announcement today of Cressida Dick as the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Rory Geoghegan of the Centre for Public Safety offers an account of the four major challenges facing the new Commissioner and the Met in the years ahead.

Interview: The long-awaited introduction of a new National ANPR System (NAS), originally scheduled to be in place by April 2016, has moved a step closer this year following a successful bid to the Police Transformation Fund to establish a National ANPR Co-ordinator and Transformation Team.Keith Potter speaks to Temporary Superintendent John Dwyer of North Yorkshire Police.