Latest News, Analysis and Opinion  (Page 173)

OPINION: Recent weeks have seen the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) mired in controversy bordering on farce. Kath Murray examines the state of the SPA and warns that it must be made properly accountable to Parliament, and its ties to government ministers weakened.

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: Dr Karen Lumsden, a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Loughborough, explores the dynamics of police and academic partnerships in terms of what works and what doesn't.

OPINION: Senior police officers have traditionally been reluctant to comment on issues that stray into political territory. However, the recent general election saw several senior officers break with this to publicly highlight the damage caused by budget cuts. Chief Supt Owen West applauds their openness.

Technology: More and more UK forces are under pressure to move away from using insecure social media apps like WhatsApp towards a secure police-wide communications platform. Andy Lilly, Director and Co-Founder of Armour Communications, explores the issue.

Opinion: Retired Metropolitan Police Service Detective Superintendent Paul Downing is the former head of the MPS Crime Academy Intelligence Faculty. He argues intelligence training has been marginalised in recent years and is failing to keep pace with the changing times.

Opinion: Based on thirty years policing experience and his academic research with the University of Portsmouth, Mark Taylor offers an ethical alternative to the College of Policing’s National Decision Model (NDM) currently used in the police service.  

Insight:  A survey carried out by the College of Policing earlier this year revealed Police and Crime Commissioners were concerned about the lack of applicants for chief officer roles. In response, the College launched a series of initiatives looking at the barriers to applying, but also what experience and qualifications tomorrow's police leaders will need. Giselle Lockett, the College Lead for Professional Development, updates Policing Insight on the College's progress.

OPINION: Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, argues that it's time to restore the balance in police funding.

Opinion: Former Chief Executive to the London Criminal Justice Board Andrew Morley was a member of the original team behind the Virtual Court initiative. Ten years on, he says the opportunities presented by Virtual Courts have not been realised and there now needs to be a different approach if the benefits are to be achieved. 

IN THE NEWS: This summary curates the key policing-related research that's been published online in the last month, 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: Following the London Olympics in 2012, the Metropolitan Police Service began to struggle to recruit and retain experienced officers in its Public Order Cadre. Birmingham University Senior Lecturer, Dr Amy Fraher has looked into the reasons why.

ADVERTORIAL: Edge Hill University Business School is proud to launch its new professional doctorate research programme from September 2017. This is the first integrated programme of its kind for the ambulance, fire & rescue and police services. Designed for senior managers and potential leaders, this novel and unique programme provides a unique opportunity to engage in cross‐disciplinary dialogue with academics, and fellow practitioners interested in the wider aspects of emergency management

OPINION: Much has been written on body-worn video and its potential to reduce complaints and enhance police legitimacy. Former Senior Investigating Officer Andy Griffiths argues that BWV also challenges the criminal justice system's reliance on memory - and that it should encourage us to look again at what problems the current system is set up to solve.

Analysis: There is still a lack of understanding and support around the transgender community. While newspapers feature flippant headlines about gender neutral toilets, those who are transgender have to deal with the sometimes devastating consequences of others' misunderstanding. But some police forces are at the vanguard of a more inclusive approach. Syreeta Lund writes.

OPINION: Serving officer Nathan Constable reflects on last week's Canterbury Police Research Centre conference, and highlights the need for people to translate between academia and policing, explaining not just the passion for reform but the purpose.

OPINION: Last week the second annual Canterbury Police Research Centre conference took place, with the title: ‘Learning from Evidence: Mission impossible?’ Emma Williams of CCCU explores the themes that emerged and the challenges posed by speakers and practitioners.

Analysis: In 2017, HMIC's Effectiveness report warned that forces were shelving crime investigations or passing them to less experienced staff. Former Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett examines the issues around crime screening and says it is time to adopt a different approach.

Opinion: Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice for the Centre for Social Justice, says recent unprecedented pressure on the police service could lead to more funding for the service.

Analysis: Police funding is a hot political issue with police leaders warning the cuts have pushed the service to breaking point. Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice, explores why, when policing budgets are so constrained, forces are so willing to pay thousands of pounds for virtual courts.

Analysis: Since 2010, the police service in England and Wales has been cut by nearly 20 per cent. In a typical ‘can do’ response, chief officers recognised the need to tighten the purse strings and, on the whole, responded gamely to austerity by accepting there were efficiency savings to be had in their force areas. However, in the face of continuing cuts and uncertainty over the police funding formula, against a backdrop of successive terror attacks, the language from the top has undoubtedly changed.  Now the talk is of ‘tipping points’ and ‘cracks’ appearing in our police service.

EXCLUSIVE PCC INSIGHT: In the first of a monthly series of articles exclusively for Policing Insight, Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill sets out his thinking on the security challenges currently facing policing and the country.

Analysis: Daniel Kirkpatrick, Assistant Lecturer in International Conflict Analysis at the University of Kent explains how early dialogue rather than criminalising non-violent forms of expression is the route to preventing political violence.

Opinion: Confirmation bias runs at a subconscious level and occurs at all times, often harmlessly, but when it is applied to the world of investigation, it can present challenges for the investigator. Neil Beet, Managing Director, Blue Lights Digital, explores confirmation bias in digital investigations and how to mitigate against it.