Features

ANALYSIS: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its Interim Report which has implications for policing including a recommendation for officers to have considerable experience in investigating child sexual abuse before moving into senior roles. Policing Insight reports.

Opinion: CCTV of a mentally ill man being sprayed with capsicum spray, pinned to the ground by six police officers and hit with a baton in Melbourne quickly went viral, appalling many including Dr Isabelle Bartkowiak-Théron of the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies who works closely with the Australian police. She asks what can we learn from this.

Opinion: CCTV technology has been in place for many years now so why the need for super recognisers? Former DCI and now CEO of Super Recognisers International Mike Neville explains how super recognisers add value to CCTV imagery, linking crimes and even identifying terror suspects.

Opinion: When others run away from danger, police officers are expected to run towards it. In her blog, Janine Jury, a Counselling and Wellbeing Manager working within the emergency services, examines how police officers respond to stress caused by their job.

OPINION: Policing is a service that should be held to the highest standards, but constant attacks from the media and politicians reflect a shallow understanding of the job. Ashley Kilgallon, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leeds, warns that such simplistic critiques are legitimising the destruction of a public service.

OPINION: As London suffers an epidemic of knife crime, and more officers break under the strain, the government narrative still appears to be unrelentingly negative. Former Chief Superintendent John Sutherland warns that it is time to confront this, and to talk realistically about what we want from police and policing.

OPINION: Police interviewing methods, often heralded as good practice, can be unhelpful when used with people with autism. Retired officer Phil Morris, who now delivers specialist training in this area, shares his own journey to understanding the best approach to those with autism. 

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the NCA's The Cyber Threat to UK Business 2017-2018 which details significant and emerging threats to cyber-security.

ANALYSIS: PEEL's latest report on police effectiveness suggests that neighbourhood policing in the UK is not quite as endangered as the previous year. However, Andy Higgins of the Police Foundation warns that local policing is not out of the woods quite yet.

OPINION: Firearms simulation training has come a long way since its clunky beginnings. Andrew Dann from Dann Developments explains how the training has evolved, what's on the market and how forces can make the most of what's on offer.

ANALYSIS: The sexual exploitation of children is often divided into online and offline abuse - but are these categories useful? Laura Broome, Dr Cristina Izura, and Prof. Nuria Lorenzo-Dus of Swansea University argue that the distinction is not a helpful one and propose a better method of categorising child sexual abuse.

ANALYSIS: The investigation of modern slavery is hugely complex, often involving several agencies - and recent inspection reports suggest there are still problems with intelligence sharing and joint action plans. Laura Pajón of the University of Derby, and Professor Dave Walsh of De Montfort University, suggest a new way of working.

OPINION: Many recent terrorist attacks have been undertaken by individuals, only loosely associated with the source of the ideologies to which they claim adherence. Serving officer Martin Gallagher argues that the polarisation of political debate, and the extreme politics of identity, are leading us into dangerously uncharted territory.

ANALYSIS: British police chiefs are enthusiastic about the benefits of body-worn cameras, so how do they reconcile the cost of adoption and maintenance with the other budgetary pressures they are facing? In an article from the 2017 CoPaCC thematic report 'Body-worn Video in Policing' , former ACC Ian Wiggett looks at the issues.

OPINION: Following HMICFRS' observation that forces are not prioritising crime prevention, Evan Morris MBE, former Head of Community Safety for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Chief Fire Officers' Association lead on Ageing Safely Strategy suggests a multi-agency, intelligence-led demand reduction strategy based on WHO Injury Surveillance data could offer a way forward.

OPINION: The latest wave of murders in London has caused deep concern, with calls for a police crackdown on the violence. Prof. James Treadwell of Staffordshire University explains why such a crackdown may not work - unless it's backed by more police resources.

INSIGHT: Last week was National Autism Awareness Week during which the National Police Autism Association (NPAA) published a number of powerful blogs dispelling some myths around autism and raising awareness. The blogs reveal how one force has changed its approach to detainees with autism, but also how officers who have been diagnosed with autism manage their lives and their jobs.

OPINION: NPCC Lead on Digital Policing Steve Kavanagh says that with the right IT, police officers and staff should see data as a powerful tool, but how can this be achieved? MASS Head of Law Enforcement Business Development Chris Bacon offers a sustainable way forward.

ANALYSIS: In their latest research report, Crest Advisory examines how Police and Crime Commissioners are in a prime position to provide the energy and impetus to improve the criminal justice system at a local level, helping to build safer communities. Crest Managing Director Harvey outlines its findings.

INSIGHT: Recruitment from under-represented communities is improving, but once in officers often struggle to progress through the ranks. A new, specially-devised coaching scheme has been launched by the Superintendents' Association in partnership with the College of Policing to encourage and support officers in reaching their full potential.

INSIGHT: Drones must be managed and maintained to the same exacting standards of manned aircraft. David Hunkin discusses how this can be achieved

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at HMICFRS Peel Effectiveness 2017 which gives a national overview of effectiveness in the police service.

ANALYSIS: In the fifth of a series of special articles examining the progress of Police and Crime Commissioners as they assume joint governance over police and fire services in their areas, Catherine Levin reports on the latest PCCs to gain government approval.

OPINION: Working with partners can have its difficulties. Serving officer Martin Gallagher explains how closer, informal partnership working with local NHS hospitals led to a culture shift in collaboration - and a reduction in demand.