Analysis: Until recently, cyber digital skills vital for police investigations were not formally recognised. The Institute of Cyber Digital Investigation Professionals (ICDIP) aims to change that. Senior Project Advisor Detective Inspector Alan Martin and Cyber Digital Career Pathways Project Team Leader Fiona Paterson explain the importance of the ICDIP in recognising the specialist knowledge, skills and professional status of those involved in cyber and digital investigations.

Opinion: Technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) has incredible potential in the fight against knife crime, but the rate of implementation of AI in policing remains slow, says Jason Sierra, Sales Director of Seven Technologies Group (7TG). Here, he makes the case for the widespread use of AI in policing including helping to tackle knife crime.

Analysis: With less than two months to go to the Police and Crime Commissioner elections for the English and Welsh forces, Policing Insight is launching its in-depth coverage. We'll be constantly updating our tracker so you'll be able to check out the candidates and their policies as they declare their intention to stand. Policing Insight's Publisher Bernard Rix takes a look at the field so far.

Analysis: In the aftermath of the Streatham terrorist attack, the UK Government announced emergency legislation would be introduced to end the early release of individuals who have committed terror offences. Alan Greene, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Birmingham, discusses the Government's decision against the complex backdrop of human rights and retrospective justice.

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises Crest Advisory's independent research into British Muslims' attitudes towards policing, extremism and the Prevent programme.

ANALYSIS : The violent language of drill music has caused controversy, with police demanding censorship and pursuing injunctions. But do we really understand how drill music is received? Dr. Paul McFarlane (pictured right) and Dr. Bennett Kleinberg (pictured left) from the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London discuss how machine learning and scientific evidence can help the police and policymakers better understand the complexity of the lyrical content of drill music and how it's consumed.

Opinion: Former deputy chief constable and now strategic adviser for digital policing transformation Paul Kennedy and Robert Hogg, Managing Director of Black Marble, a Microsoft software development company, explore the opportunities for and challenges to artificial intelligence in policing.

Analysis: In a series of short blogs, Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter reflects on the last six years and what the future holds for the world of camera surveillance as his commission comes to an end.

INTERVIEW: Dr Holger Nitsch, from the Police Department of the University of Applied Sciences for Public Service in Bavaria, explains to Policing Insight the unique research and innovation collaborations between German and UK police forces to tackle the twin threats of cybercrime and terrorism.    

Analysis: Across the globe homicide rates are falling, whilst in the UK they continue to rise. Professor Ian Hamilton, Professor Alex Stevens and Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director of Release, the UK centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law, discuss whether this increase is drug related or due to more complex societal factors.

Analysis: Jennifer Cobbina, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, discusses whether the recruitment of a more diverse workforce would bring an end to police brutality against black citizens in the US, or whether the answer lies in the remoulding of a more appropriate police culture.

Opinion: The PCC elections are set to take place in May. Deloitte's fourth report into Police and Crime Commissioners is also due out the same month and will enable new and returning PCCs to optimise their role at a time of considerable change in policing. Deloitte's Frances Lysak explains the focus of this latest report.

Opinion: Former police officer and now The Bravest Path's Director Gareth Davies works with high profile organisations, including police forces, to help individuals 'shake off the shame' to find the courage to lead better, based on research by Dr Brené Brown. Here, using her research, he explores the role of shame in police culture and offers way to overcome it, increasing engagement, wellbeing and ultimately productivity.

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.

Interview: Although Gloucestershire is a largely rural county with a lower than average violent crime rate, Gloucestershire PCC Martin Surl recently commissioned its largest ever study into violent crime. Policing Insight spoke to Chair of Safer Gloucestershire and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Brierley (pictured) to find out why and what the report revealed.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: The Durham Community Peer Mentor Project, which recruits volunteers to mentor 'high-impact' users of the emergency services, was awarded 'highly commended' at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture. In the seventh of twelve articles focusing on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at this pioneering project.

INSIGHT: Drug and alcohol misuse often fuel crime and, as such, many Police and Crime Commissioners are working to reduce the harm it causes to individuals and communities. The latest edition of PCCs Making a Difference highlights the breadth of work taking place to address alcohol and drug dependency and break the cycle of re-offending.

OPINION: With increased police funding providing opportunities for real change, CIPFA Chief Executive Rob Whiteman CBE argues that policing should be high on the agenda of the forthcoming royal commission on criminal justice system promised by the government.

Analysis: With the use of artificial intelligence in policing on the rise, Karen Richmond, doctoral researcher at the University of Strathclyde examines whether utilising this type of technology in relation to DNA extraction is progress or a step too far.

Announcement: Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive and Publisher of Policing Insight, provides details of the Offices of Police and Crime Commissioners (OPCCs) recognised for meeting their statutory requirements on openness and transparency.

INTERVIEW: Technology that helped former President Barack Obama secure a second term is now helping Durham Constabulary understand better what local communities really think about policing. CEO and co-founder of Elucd Michael Simon and Acting Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for Durham Steve White explain the potential the technology has for policing.

New Series: In our continuing series aimed at supporting the new police degree entry recruits, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Carina O'Reilly explores the experimental approach to evidence based-policing, how it ranks different types of research and what this means for policing.

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.

Analysis: Consultant to Dubai Police Jorge J. Román PhD explores the benefits of benchmarking for policing and how the Dubai Police applied benchmarking methodology to its fleet management system to improve productivity and reduce costs.