Analysis: Dr Alex Oaten from the University of Birmingham and Dr Chris Allen from the University of Leicester consider the principle of policing by consent and whether this has been lost in the policing reponse by some forces to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opinion: The elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, were due take place today (7 May) and were cancelled due to the pandemic, but has anyone noticed? Prospective Labour candidate for Warwickshire Ben Twomey argues that in 2021, following the fallout from the pandemic, it will even more important the public cast their vote.

Analysis: The uplift in police officers coupled with the impact of the coronavirus could overwhelm an already beleaguered criminal justice system, according to a report by the Institute for Government. Senior researcher at the Institute Benoit Guerin explores the report's findings in greater detail.

Analysis: Following the publication of CoPaCC's recent thematic on police contact management, Hootsuite's UK Police Lead Nathan Bird examines some of the findings and highlights the increasing role of online engagement, a low cost and, at times, more effective way to manage police demand.

OPINION: The culture of policing has undoubtedly evolved over the last decades, but what does the latest stage mean? Serving officer Martin Gallagher argues that the 'fourth age' of policing could see mobile working undermine the capacity of senior officers to lead on the frontline.

IN THE NEWS: This summary curates the key policing-related research that's been published online in the last week, with links to the original journal articles, and selected abstracts - plus a short guide outlining how serving police officers and staff can get access, free, to many of the articles listed through the National Police Library. You do not need to be a member of the College to access its library.

INSIGHT: A rapid flattening of the now familiar Covid-19 infection curve has enabled the Isle of Man to ease some of the current restrictions, ahead of the United Kingdom. Isle of Man Chief Constable Gary Roberts shares the challenges this has presented and some of the early lessons learnt.

Analysis: Mixed teams of officers and staff are commonplace in UK policing, but civilian staff numbers have fallen significantly while police officer numbers are set to swell by an additional 20,000. In the third article of this series, Ian Wiggett examines the implications this shift towards more officers will have for policing.

INTERVIEW: As the rise of far-right extremism concerns senior counter-terrorism police officers, Dr Rakib Ehsan, terrorism expert from the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), explains to Policing Insight the motivations and propaganda that is fuelling recruitment to far-right groups, and how they are weaponising the COVID-19 crisis.

Opinion: As retired police officers are asked to consider returning to their force to help police the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, policing commentator Mark Brown discusses how the UK could develop a resilient and effective policing model able to cope in times of crisis.

Interview: Last month, amid concerns, the Government announced 4,000 low-risk prisoners would be released to tackle the spread of Covid-19. Policing Insight contributor Sarah Gibbons asks West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem, who is leading a multi-agency, regional response, how will the scheme will work.

Job advertisement: Police Lecturer vacancies at Babcock International for their new flagship contract partnering with several Higher Education Institutes across London to deliver the new Metropolitan Police Service Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) framework.

Analysis: AUSTRALIA: Following the horrific deaths of four Victorian police officers, Dr. Kelly Hine, a lecturer in criminology at Australian National University, looks at how Australian officers are sustaining injuries and other medical conditions, and how often are officers dying in the line of duty.

OPINION: Former Chief Superintendent and author of the bestselling Blue: A Memoir - Keeping the Peace and Falling to Pieces John Sutherland considers the role police officers are playing in the face of the current pandemic and how all too often stories of their bravery and courage are overshadowed by tales of heavy-handed policing tactics.

OPINION: The UK police service is in the process of developing the Single Online Home, a national, digital counter service offering over forty policing services. But then the world changed. NPCC Lead for Digital Public Contact and Chief Constable of Leicestershire Simon Cole QPM reflects on the progress made and the impact of Covid-19.

Innovation: Scrutiny is a vital aspect of police governance, but how does it work during a pandemic? Last week, Cheshire Police and Crime Panel became the first to use Zoom to question Cheshire PCC David Keane on how the force is performing in these unprecedented times. But can a 'virtual meeting' be a substitute for the real thing?

FREE SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from Bedfordshire Police, who now have FREE access to Policing Insight with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. Policing Insight is now available FREE to officers and staff in many UK forces and in other police and criminal justice organisations as well as to students and staff members in many academic institutions. Read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

Analysis: Although we know modern slavery is rising in the UK, there is no definitive method for collating accurate figures. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth says that has to change and there are lessons to be learnt from a unique collaboration in the United States that analyses big data to uncover patterns and help inform policy decisions.

INTERVIEW: Policing is facing its greatest challenge since the Second World War as officers enforce the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Bedfordshire Chief Constable Garry Forsyth tells Policing Insight how the Coronavirus has touched every aspect of police business, including challenging accepted working practices.

IN THE NEWS: This summary curates the key policing-related research that's been published online in the last week, with links to the original journal articles, and selected abstracts - plus a short guide outlining how serving police officers and staff can get access, free, to many of the articles listed through the National Police Library. You do not need to be a member of the College to access its library.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: This police-led response to a terror attack on one of the UK’s oldest synagogues, which united a range of agencies and organisations to promote public reassurance and community cohesion, was awarded Highly Commended in the World Class Policing Awards, sponsored by Accenture. In the eleventh of twelve articles focusing on the award winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at this exceptional example of policing, partnership and community response.

FEATURE: In our continuing series aimed at supporting the new police degree entry recruits, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Carina O'Reilly outlines a case study of evidence-based policing in practice - the benefits of hot spot policing and what it can achieve.

Analysis: In the first of a series of articles on road safety, Drivetech Managing Director Charlie Norman examines the findings of the Government's recent view of Smart motorways following safety concerns and argues that re-educating motorists is crucial to reducing the number of deaths and injuries on the road.

Analysis: During austerity, some UK police forces lost over 50 per cent of their PCSOs and more than a quarter of their police staff employees. In the second article in our series on the nature of the UK's police workforce, we examine how the change in police staff and PCSO numbers over the past decade reflects a shift in attitudes towards civilianisation, outsourcing of staff and PCSOs.