Features

OPINION: What is the real impact of reduced police numbers? Dr Joan Donnelly of the Police Federation of England and Wales discusses the complexity of 'demand', ahead of a conference next week at Canterbury Christ Church University on Evidence Based Policing: Beyond the Randomised Control Trial.

OPINION: Chief Superintendent John Sutherland gives his personal reflections on leadership in the police service - what it means, and why it matters.

BOOK EXTRACT: Policing Insight is delighted to publish extracts from "Police Dog Heroes," by Michael Layton and Bill Rogerson.

ANALYSIS: PCCs are overwhelmingly white and male, but what about the people they employ? Sandra Andrews of CoPaCC analyses the diversity of the staff that make up the Offices of the PCCs - and finds that transparency as well as diversity remain challenging issues.

OPINION: With less than ten days to go before the referendum on the UK's continued membership of the European Union, Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill argues that the UK needs to vote 'leave' in order to strengthen our national security.

ANALYSIS: What's the point of NCALT e-learning in the police service, and why is it so disliked? Rich Honess and Dan Reynolds write up a debate held last week on @wecops. Dan is a front line ‘thinking cop' who holds a seat on the College of Policing Membership committee, offering advice to the College board. He is passionate about evidence based policing and a member of the SEBP.

ANALYSIS: The police service is the latest sector to launch an innovative initiative to tempt the best and brightest graduates into its ranks. But what can graduate fast-trackers bring to public services? Caoimhe Udom analyses the outcome of a recent panel discussion held by the Institute for Government.

OPINION: In the last of our blog posts celebrating Volunteers' Week, Tina Shelton outlines how Employer-Supported Policing can bring massive benefits to businesses and other employers as well as to the police.

ANALYSIS: What can be achieved and delivered by volunteers in policing? In the sixth of our blogs celebrating volunteers' week, Dr Matt Callender of the University of Northampton outlines two exciting new research projects aimed at understanding the activities and skills of Special Constables.

OPINION: Colin Pipe was the first (and so far the only) Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner to hold office as a volunteer. In the fifth of our blogs celebrating Volunteers' Week, he argues that service - and therefore volunteering - should be at the heart of everything that PCCs do.

ANALYSIS: Who are the people that volunteer to support their police service? What is their contribution to policing? And what about their relationships with the police officers and staff who work alongside them? In the fourth of our blogs celebrating Volunteers' Week, Melissa Pepper explores the evidence.

OPINION: In the wake of a recent @wecops discussion on the role of sergeants, Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University examines the nature of leadership at sergeant level in the changing social landscape of policing.

OPINION: In the third in our series celebrating police volunteering, Terry Wilkins calls on police forces to take advantage of the huge range of skills that volunteers can bring, helping to connect police to communities.

ANALYSIS: What is the role of local authorities in the fight against organised crime? Ahead of a Public Policy Exchange event on 7th June, Dr Anna Sergi of the University of Essex warns that none of our communities are immune from the threat.

OPINION: In the second of our series celebrating volunteering in policing, Dr Amie Birkhamshaw says PCCs have confounded their critics by embracing the volunteering agenda and embedding volunteers in the fabric of their planning

ANALYSIS: New media guidelines proposed by the College of Policing could impose strict new rules on contacts between police officers and journalists. Carina O'Reilly asks if they will protect the police, or smother vital relationships built on mutual understanding.

ANALYSIS: PCCs have only four years to establish their legacy before the next elections. Bernard Rix, editor of CoPACC, outlines the four key areas where PCCs can stamp their authority.

OPINION: Chief Constable Dave Thompson of West Midlands Police pays tribute to efforts made to increase diversity, but warns that police still need to correct assumptions, think harder, and talk about their challenges.

OPINION: Andrew Haldenby, Director of the Reform thinktank, welcomes the government's sweeping proposals for fire service reform - and warns if change doesn't happen voluntarily, the government may force it through anyway.

OPINION: Are Triage schemes doing their job in mental health emergencies? Serving police officer 'Nathan Constable' warns police forces could be heading down a dead end track with no way to turn around.

OPINION: Protecting vulnerable people is the new 'volume demand' in policing. Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, Vice President of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, outlines the need for a consistent approach to vulnerability.

ANALYSIS: Ahead of the imminent, potentially massive, changes to Fire and Rescue Service organisation and structure, former Editor of Policing Today Philip Mason asks if the government has learnt from mistakes made during its parallel reform of the Police Service

ANALYSIS: Following publication last week of the Home Affairs Select Committee's report on police diversity, CoPaCC's Simon Bullock looks at the evidence...

BOOK EXTRACT: Policing Insight is delighted to publish an extract from Tom Gash's book, "Criminal: The Truth About Why People Do Bad Things".