Latest News, Analysis and Opinion  (Page 162)

Opinion: The last few months have seen a number of successful legal challenges relating to disclosure, but if the legislation has been in place for over twenty years, retired Metropolitan Police Service Detective Superintendent Paul Downing, former head of the MPS Crime Academy Intelligence Faculty, asks what's changed?

ANALYSIS: The resignation of Police Scotland's Chief Constable Phil Gormley is the latest twist in a story of perpetual crisis since the force's establishment. Nick McKerrell of Glasgow Caledonian University traces the roots of the saga and warns that further problems are likely.

Opinion: Digital evidence permeates every investigation, but the collapse of several high profile trials recently demonstrates what happens when it is mishandled. Our contributor, a digital investigation expert, who has worked for many years in industry and law enforcement including close involvement in the development of standards across the sector, says the problem goes to the heart of how evidence is gathered and forces must take action now. The author has asked to remain anonymous.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 6 (of eleven).

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: 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 Suzy Lamplugh Trust's report on the policies and practices surrounding the licensing of taxi and private vehicle hire drivers, raising concerns that current regulations are putting passengers at risk.

ANALYSIS: Has Police Now lived up to its promise? The London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) last month published its evaluation of the Met's first Police Now cohort. Gavin Hales of The Police Foundation examines the evidence.

INSIGHT: Two years on from the College of Policing’s Leadership Review and applications for the Senior Police National Assessment Centre (SPNAC) and Strategic Command Course (SCC), the gateway to senior chief officers’ positions, have risen by a third. Policing Insight takes a closer look at the changes that have made this happen and what’s next for senior appointments.

ANALYSIS: Direct Entry is highly contentious among serving officers. Emma Williams and Jennifer Norman of Canterbury Christ Church University and Dr Fran Boag-Munroe of the Police Federation of England and Wales explore the results of the PFEW’s Annual Pay and Morale Survey 2017 to explain why that is - and warn that DE could pose real risks to the professionalisation agenda.

ANALYSIS: The imminent release of sex attacker John Worboys has re-focused the spotlight on how the criminal justice system investigates and prosecutes rapes cases. Conviction rates are improving, but are still very low and many more rapes remain unreported. Syreeta Lund takes a look at why this is and what needs to change.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 5 (of eleven).

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: The way in which the police investigate fraud prompted a member of the Home Affairs Committee to recently wonder if the police could be accused of having ‘slopey' shoulders. The reality is far more complex.

Opinion: The number of unauthorised encampments in the West Midlands has more than doubled in the last five years. Inevitably, community tension has escalated too. This has meant, in the last two years alone, calls to the police related to unauthorised encampments have doubled. West Midlands PCC David Jamieson and Policy Officer Ben Twomey believe it is time to strengthen the law.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence could be a huge boon to policing and public safety - but it must be used responsibly and win public trust. James Slessor, Managing Director of Accenture Public Safety, reflects on the possibilities.

ANALYSIS: At a time of constrained resources, one source of potential information on violent crime has yet to be fully exploited by police forces - that from ambulances. Alex Sutherland and Lucy Strang of RAND Europe explore the opportunities that this kind of data could offer.

OPINION: What are your psychological drivers? In the fifth in our series of articles aimed at supporting you in the workplace, Jonathan Rees, owner of Momoho and an expert in developing high-performing teams in the bluelight sector, looks at our psychological drivers.

INTERVIEW: Support worker Matt Hazelwood has just joined North Wales Police's modern slavery unit, making him the first support worker in the UK to be based within a police modern slavery unit. He tells Policing Insight about his new role and how it can improve the response to modern day slavery.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 4 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: The Office for National Statistics has been working on a “step change” in its presentation of the crime statistics for England and Wales. As Iain Bell of the ONS explains, the new approach emphasises clear explanation of the latest trends using the best possible source of information on each type of crime.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing including responses from the main stakeholders and media reaction. Here, we look at the Forensic Regulator’s Report Annual Report which examines compliance with standards from those offering forensic services. Despite the issues relating to the discovery of malpractice at Randox Testing Services, progress has been made. However, ongoing cuts are pressurising forces to cut corners and reduce in house forensic services.

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: An increasing number of terrorist attacks on the West are being perpetrated by 'lone wolves'. But where does their allegiance to wider groups come from, and how close are these ties? Serving officer Martin Gallagher examines the phenomenon.

OPINION: Police professionalisation is a growing theme internationally, and greater attention is being paid to the links between universities and police forces. Dr Isabelle Bartkowiak-Théron, James Dwyer and Brianna O’Shea of the University of Tasmania reflect on their experiences and the need to keep challenging for greater engagement.