Opinion

OPINION: Why is it that PTSD in some forces will result in an injury retirement, in others a resignation and in the worst cases prosecution? Gill Scott-Moore of the Police Dependents' Trust talks about what's changed in the way police deal with mental health issues, the research the Trust has commissioned, and the work that still needs to be done.

OPINION: The first hundred days of a new PCC are overwhelmingly busy and full of meetings and helpful advice. But few of these will directly address the most important aspects of making a success of the job. Karen Drury looks at the relationships, and the necessary managing of conflict, needed to keep the show on the road.

OPINION: David Jamieson, PCC for the West Midlands, argues that the proposed model for the new mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority is weak and not fit for purpose, and calls for the CA to pause, reflect, and review the role.

OPINION: The latest NFU report on rural crime showed marked variations in some crime types and between local force areas. But which interventions are working? Nick Alston, former Essex PCC and now Chair of the newly launched Policing Institute for the Eastern Region, calls for more research into what works to reduce rural - and other - crime.

OPINION: The Curtis Review on the use of targets in policing was published in December 2015, but little actual change appears to have taken place. Simon Guilfoyle revisits the debate and calls once more for the fundamental transformation of performance management in the police service.

OPINION: Armed police officers have made headlines again, this time for shopping in Morrisons. Police blogger and serving officer 'Nathan Constable' outlines the the security threat and the professionalism of armed officers, and argues for a grown-up debate about armed response.

EXCLUSIVE: New PCC for Cheshire, David Keane, blogs about his 100-day listening exercise, and why the police need to be based in the heart of the community - not in police stations.

OPINION: Police Now, the Graduate Leadership Development Programme for the police, has been controversial in some quarters. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University lays out her thoughts after spending a day with the scheme, and argues that talented serving officers also need access to high quality training.

OPINION: How should 'blue light' services communicate with the people they serve? Dan Slee examines the work that comms teams in the Fire and Rescue Services have been doing to get their life-saving messages across, and what lessons there are for other public services.

OPINION: Ian Blackhurst, Executive Director for Solutions, Northgate Public Services argues that criminals don’t respect force borders or system silos, and neither should digital evidence.

EXCLUSIVE: Lord Willy Bach, the first serving parliamentarian to be elected as a Police and Crime Commissioner, talks about the learning curve for PCCs, appointing a deputy, and why 'blue light' mergers could leave the Fire Service as the poor relation.

OPINION: Iain Britton, Head of the Centre for Citizens in Policing at the Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice, reflects on the national Citizens in Policing Summit at the Palace Hotel, Manchester on Thursday 21 July.

OPINION: Arfon Jones, newly elected PCC for North Wales and one of the first two Plaid Cymru PCCs, talks about his background as a police officer, the Home Office's obsession with crime statistics, and his focus on domestic violence and youth justice.

OPINION: Photos of a gay Metropolitan Police officer proposing to his partner at London Pride last month were shared nationally and internationally, and highlighted the changes that have taken place in police culture and attitudes over the last several decades. Steve Bax of the Police Federation of England and Wales explores how these changes have affected officers on the ground, and what still needs to be done.

OPINION: Dealing with the most vulnerable is a priority for the police. On 22 July, @WeCops held an online debate on early intervention, with CI Justin Srivastava (@CiSrivastava) as the guest host. Eric Halford (@DSEricHalford) summarises the debate and why early intervention matters - and how it can be done better.

OPINION: Ch Supt Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, explains why he is "pleased to see today's crime figures show a massive amount of online and cyber fraud offences".

OPINION: Jon Collins, CEO of the Restorative Justice Council, argues in favour of using restorative justice principles to help heal the Brexit rifts now evident in society

OPINION: What does 'confidence' in policing really mean? Dr Kevin Morrell of Warwick Business School is taking a year's fellowship to explore the ramifications of 'confidence' and to open up dialogue and to develop fresh insights into public confidence in the police.

OPINION: How healthy is policing research and what does the British Society of Criminology conference tell us about what state it's in? New Chair of the BSC Policing Network Dr Louise Westmarland reflects on the conference and the new directions of policing research.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, wonders why the Home Affairs Select Committee chose not to take evidence from Police and Crime Commissioners in their inquiry into the College of Policing

OPINION: How could the Brexit vote affect the UK's ability to deal with organised crime? Dr Anna Sergi of the University of Essex argues that the UK's isolation could be game changing for criminal gangs – and in the worst way.

OPINION: New PCC for Derbyshire Hardyal Dhindsa talks to Policing Insight about diversity, mental health, fire mergers, and his pledge to visit all 383 towns and villages in Derbyshire to reach out to the county's different communities.

OPINION: Much of the UK's security is dependent upon its ability to work in co-operation with partners. The recent referendum and the potential departure of the UK from the EU poses a danger to that work. Former Greater Manchester ACC Ian Wiggett unpicks the ramifications of Brexit, and warns that it will take a lot of effort by political leaders to ensure that co-operation is not damaged.

OPINION: What will the referendum mean for policing? Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, explores the challenges and the possibilities of the unchartered waters ahead.