Features

ANALYSIS : Vigilante paedophile hunters are playing an increasingly mainstream role in the prosecution of perpetrators of child sexual exploitation. But how should the police deal with them? Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou of the University of Essex explores the benefits and the dangers of working with these controversial groups.

Analysis: The Security Service faced considerable criticism for its prioritising of intelligence operations prior to the London Bridge attack in 2017. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth examines the challenges around gathering and interpreting intelligence relating to terror plots.

INTERVIEW: In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, NPCC International Policing Lead and Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police Andy Marsh QPM highlights the crucial role of the Joint International Policing Hub in preventing crime reaching the UK and his ambitions for its future.

Analysis: New research on peoples' experiences of policing at anti-fracking protests has pointed to an increasing criminalisation of non-violent protest. One of the researchers, Dr Will Jackson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University, explores the police's approach to protesters and the implications it has for police legitimacy.

Opinion: Kent Police Sergeant Darren Moor has just published the 'ultimate guide to health' for fellow officers and front-line civilian staff. Here he explains what motivated him to write How To Survive Your Police Career and the impact he is hoping it will have.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: In the second part of Policing Insight’s interview with the Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC explores some of the steps that policing and police and crime commissioners need to take to improve the treatment of, and support for, victims of crime as well as the challenges that lie ahead.

OPINION: While the focus of attention is on the upcoming general election, candidates for the next round of PCC elections are also becoming clear. Nina Champion, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, and Phil Bowen, Director of the Centre for Justice Innovation, look at how the race could affect criminal justice policy.

Interview: Technical Expert for Thekking* Steingrímur Fannar Stefánsson tells Policing Insight about an award-winning project to share sensitive digital evidence between the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police and the National University Hospital of Iceland.

ANALYSIS : The way that policing is presented to the public affects public understanding and confidence. Yet documentaries such as The Met often give a very limited and stereotypical account of police work. Dr Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argues that police and the documentaries that follow them need to focus more on innovative programmes addressing problems at their origin.

Opinion: Last week, the policing world came together to celebrate the best of policing at the World Class Policing Awards 2019. techUK's Justice and Emergency Services Programme Manager Jessica Russell reflects on the evening and the importance of collaboration.

Analysis: Last month's publication of the Government's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy is a welcome step towards tackling the increasing menace of rogue drones, but is the police service in a position to deliver its objectives? Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth takes a closer look.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: In the first of a two-part interview, former Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria and now Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC talks to Policing Insight about the Victims’ Strategy and Victims’ Code, and her own role in ensuring that victims of crime are treated with decency and dignity.

Analysis: As the Hong Kong demonstrations continue unabated, Military Historian and independent consultant Dr Jill Russell examines the historical context for the current disorder and the wider challenges of policing political protests.

INTERVIEW: The scale and cost of Police ICT makes it a highly risky venture with no guarantee of success so how does the police service embrace new and emerging technology without risking vast amounts of money? Policing Insight talks to Assistant Chief Officer Hacer Evans, Director of the Digital Policing Portfolio, about the 'Digital Policing Accelerator'.

OPINION: Though many new technology programmes introduced to policing have been plagued with difficulty, one recent programme has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Chief Inspector Martin Gallagher, Deputy Business Lead for Police Scotland's Mobile Working Project, describes its success.

CONFERENCE REPORT: The number of countries that attended this year's Australia & New Zealand Police Society of Evidence Based Policing Conference in Canberra reflects a growing understanding of the importance of embedding evidence based policing in wider law enforcement activity. Dr Steve Watts gives a flavour of this year's conference.

Analysis: Police officers carrying firearms is an area that has undergone considerable legislative changes in Australia. Professor Rick Sarre, Dean of Law at the University of South Australia, examines what effect these changes have had on officer safety and public protection.

Analysis: The influx of thousands of new police recruits in the next three years will transform Human Resources in policing. Head of Policing for KPMG in the UK Andrew Lea explores the challenges ahead and offers ways in which HR can rise to them.

FEATURE: What is Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) and why is the College of Policing keen to incorporate this approach into police work? To coincide with the announcement of our forthcoming series, THE POLICE STUDENT, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Carina O'Reilly explores the shift towards Evidence-Based Policing and the value it potentially brings.

Analysis: Following research commissioned by the National Police Chiefs Council into diversity in policing, Research Director for Crime and Justice at the National Centre for Social Research Dr Jeffrey DeMarco examines the issues impacting diversity and how they can be overcome.

Analysis: Statistics can help improve the public's understanding of the demands on policing, but how do the media use statistics and how does this influence the public debate? Statistics Regulator for the Office for Statistics Regulation Lewis Jack discusses the findings of the OSR's Policing Review Phase Two Media Analysis.

Opinion: There have been calls for a new code to regulate the police use of Automated Facial Recognition technology, but Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter says the current Surveillance Camera Code of Practice could be updated to provide the police service with advice on using AFR.

analysis: The final paper in our series on Police and Crime Panels by Dr Roy Bailey explores the governance role of Police and Crime Panels and whether they are effective in holding Police and Crime Commissioners to account.

Opinion: Former Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire and now a strategic adviser on police and technology Paul Kennedy explores the potential of AI and automation for policing and whether the service is positioned to embrace new technologies.