Latest News, Analysis and Opinion  (Page 163)

ANALYSIS: The vast majority of UK forces now have drone capability, but whilst the emphasis has been on their potential to assist policing, little attention has been paid to whether their presence compromises people's privacy and undermines basic Peelian Principles of policing by consent. Inspector Darren Green says it's time to have the conversation. 

OPINION: Last week, @WeCops hosted a Twitter chat on how austerity had affected policing. Serving officer Gareth Stubbs discusses the responses and what it tells us about the state of policing, and the need for police organisations to take trauma and wellbeing seriously.

OPINION: Arrests of football fans have fallen by 14% according to recent figures - but the numbers don't tell the whole story. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fans still face confrontational policing and aggressive stewarding at matches. Chief Supt. Owen West calls for clubs, fans and police forces to come together to change the match day dynamic.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders and media reaction. Here we take a look at HMICFRS' report on police air support which raises serious concerns regarding the ability of National Police Air Support to deliver a consistent service to forces.

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 the National Crime Agency's County Lines Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply 2017, their third threat assessment.

OPINION: As they commence a new national research project into Special Constabulary leadership, Dr Iain Britton and Dr Carol Borland-Jones of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at the University of Northampton, discuss why they feel the leadership of Special Constabularies is such an important issue, and raise some key debates.

Analysis: Despite austerity measures putting both police and courts under financial pressure, recent years have seen a large decline in out of court disposals. Rob Allen, author of a new report published today by Transform Justice, says it is time to reverse the trend.

Analysis: Creativity and innovation may not be two words that automatically come to mind when thinking about policing. Yet, this year’s annual College of Policing conference - Everyday Innovation - revealed that there is no shortage of either within the police service.

Analysis: CoPaCC’s Police ICT User Survey results revealed superintendents in Scotland expressed some of the highest levels of dissatisfaction with aspects of their ICT provision.  Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), takes a closer look at what the results mean.

Analysis: The results from UK policing's first independent ICT User Survey - published today - are already having a positive impact thanks to the quality of the data, but it is just the beginning of the journey, according to the police associations that have lent their support to the survey.

NEW REPORT: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' is published today. Following a survey of police officers from 44 police forces, the report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force. The results and feedback from end users are required reading for police managers, buyers and suppliers.

ANALYSIS: In the fourth of a series of special articles examining the progress of Police and Crime Commissioners as they assume joint governance over police and fire services in their areas, Catherine Levin reports on an increasingly exclusive club of forces intending to take on fire governance.

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.

Interview: This weekend (9-10 December), in the wake of the College of Policing’s Everyday Innovation conference and in the run up to CoPaCC’s thematic report into police ICT, Hack the Police 2 will bring developers and frontline officers together to take innovative ideas and put them into action in a sequel to the UK’s first and original policing hackathon. We interview one of the organisers, Edwin Burns of the Forensic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths (University of London), ahead of the event.

OPINION: The 24th annual Lord Ferrers Awards, which recognise the contributions of Police Support Volunteers, Special Constables and Volunteer Police Cadets, took place in London on Tuesday 28th November. Dr Iain Britton, a member of the panel of judges for the awards this year, reflects on the inspirational individuals and teams who were awarded for their voluntary contributions.

OPINION: Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner has become the latest PCC to appoint outside expertise in the form of a new Deputy to help drive the county's response to modern slavery. Justine Currell explains why she is the right person for the role. 

OPINION: The Valuing Victims report by the charity, Why me?, revealed wide variations in PCC spending on RJ schemes. In the second of two articles, Richard Monkhouse, the charity's chair, says the findings also demonstrate the benefits of restorative justice.

ANALYSIS: Recent figures from the ONS suggest that almost two million adults experienced some form of domestic abuse last year. But does this still under-estimate the problem? Dr Hannah Bows of Durham University explores the problems with recording - and supporting victims - of domestic violence.

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 the Office of National Statistics report on Domestic Abuse in England and Wales, which draws on a range of data and examines the prevalence of domestic abuse as well as the CJS response. For the first time, the report includes information on victim services.

OPINION: Zoe Dronfield was the victim of a horrific attack by her ex-partner. It later came to light that she was his 14th victim, but she had no idea of his violent past when she met him. Zoe now campaigns for greater protection for all from domestic abuse and stalking, including the setting up of a national stalker register.

OPINION: There is an increasing and understandable buzz around blockchain and its potential to solve data sharing issues in the criminal justice system. However, caution is required. Lars Davies, CEO of Kalypton explains.

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: Many forces want the benefits of BWV, yet procurement is not a simple process. Each department has specific needs that must be met in terms of quality, cost, storage and future-proofing – one size does not fit all. In this article from the CoPaCC thematic report 'Body-worn Video in Policing', Graham Jarvis looks at the technology considerations.

LONG READ: The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) was originally envisioned as an apolitical arms-length body providing oversight and accountability of the single police service. Dr Ali Malik explores the SPA's short history, and sets out recommendations aimed at strengthening the body’s legitimacy and increasing public confidence.