INSIGHT: The role of Chief Constable was once much sought after, but with the number of applicants per post slumping to an average of two per role and retention rates falling, there's no denying it has lost its attraction for many. In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, recently retired Chief Constable of Essex Stephen Kavanagh QPM explores the reasons.
INSIGHT: Published today, the "Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018" report includes articles providing a range of views on the results and what should happen next. Policing Insight's editor, Tina Orr Munro, here acknowledges that some progress on police ICT has been made since last year's survey - but widespread frustrations reveal the police service still has a very long way to go.
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.
ANALYSIS: Policing is undergoing a profound transformation, but are forces ready for the changes they still have to make? Accenture recently surveyed over 300 policing professionals in six countries; Rachel Phillips and James Slessor of Accenture Public Safety explain their findings.
8th October 2018
NEW REPORT: The results of this year's Police ICT User survey have now been published, with police officers and staff expressing deep dissatisfaction with ICT provision in their forces. They tell a story of badly specified, out-of-date equipment, slow and unreliable systems with poor integration combined with a lack of suitable training and support.
ANALYSIS: Managing Director of Xnet Carl Roberts has spent a decade working with forces on collaboration projects. Here he outlines the questions forces need to ask themselves before embarking on a project and reveals the areas most likely to yield success.
Analysis: The OU's Police Learning and Research Group, in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, has commissioned a study into how complex systems thinking can support police policy decision-making. GMP's Programme Director for Information Services Transformation Ch Supt Phil Davies explains how ‘synthetic intelligence’ could be a new frontier for policing.
INSIGHT: The police service is used to reviews in one form or another so Policing Insight asked T/ACC Steve Graham, the Strategic Lead for Engagement for the Home Office's current review of frontline policing, what is so different about this one.
Live Updates: Live Updates: This morning Devon and Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez will meet the Police and Crime Panel to answer questions on the proposed merger between Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police. If it goes through, it will be the first time in fifty years that two police forces have amalgamated. However, Alison Hernandez has raised serious concerns about the merger. The meeting is due to start at 10.30am.
ANALYSIS: There are growing financial and operational pressures on policing. Senior figures are calling for a new vision, but as the president of the PSA said earlier this month, there is a void at the centre - and no prospect of a Royal Commission to provide answers. The service can, however, start preparing options now. The themes that come up time and again are structure, accountability frameworks, and workforce. What is the service’s own future vision for these?
Analysis: Following catastrophic bush fires in 2009 which killed 173 people, Australia implemented a mobile phone alert system so the emergency services could directly contact and advise the public during a major incident. The system has already saved lives and has now been implemented in other countries, so why not the UK?
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.
ANALYSIS: Understanding of evidence-based policing has come a long way, but many police leaders are still looking for a 'silver bullet' - strategies that will just work. Prof. Jerry Ratcliffe of Temple University explains why the silver bullets don't exist, but that EBP is still a valuable tool.
Opinion: Evan Morris MBE, former Head of Community Safety for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Chief Fire Officers' Association lead on Ageing Safely, was recently appointed Independent Member of Cheshire Police and Crime Panel. Here he reflects on his first year in the role and how PCPs can support PCCs in driving effective collaboration.
OPINION: With the College of Policing's Continuing Professional Development week coming up in November, Rich Honess of Canterbury Christ Church University surveys the landscape of policing CPD, and asks what police officers would really like to see provided - and how.
Analysis: Following concerns over the impact collaborations and alliances were having on superintendents' health and well-being, the Police Superintendents' Association conducted a survey. Vice President Paul Griffiths outlined the results at this year's conference that revealed - despite the toll on well-being - superintendents overwhelmingly back force amalgamations.
25th September 2018
Prize Draw Winner: As the second CoPaCC Police ICT User Perspectives Report is about to be published, we’re delighted to announce the winner of our prize draw. Congratulations to Detective Constable Ed Middleton from Gwent Police who has scooped an Apple iPad 2. Tina Orr-Munro speaks to DC Middleton about his experience of ICT in his day-to-day role as a financial crime investigator.
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.
INSIGHT: A recent National Police Chiefs Council report highlighted a severe shortage in applicants for the role of chief constable. One of the reasons cited was lack of job security given Police and Crime Commissioners' power to remove chiefs. Dr Mark Roycroft's book 'Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops?' explores the complex relationship between PCCs and Chiefs.
Analysis: HMICFRS' report on the police response to hate crime highlighted the progress Nottinghamshire Police has made in introducing a comprehensive hate crime risk assessment tool. Dr Loretta Trickett, Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University, who has been at the forefront of this work, explains how this approach is assisting police and the CPS to better recognise and record hate incidents.
ANALYSIS: With the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal becoming more likely, the Institute for Government recently published a timely report on the need for ongoing security co-operation. Maddy Thimont Jack of the IfG explains the report's findings.
ANALYSIS: Recent events have highlighted the need to approach radicalisation not just as a security issue but also as a social and psychological one. Professor Babak Akhgar FBCS, Director of CENTRIC (Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research) at Sheffield Hallam University, explains how the MINDb4ACT project is addressing these concerns.
