30th December 2017
NEWS: The New Year Honours lists for 2018 recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. Many congratulations to those in and associated with policing who have been recognised this year...
ANALYSIS: The recent National Crime Agency report on County Lines highlighted the disturbing trend of children being targeted to work for drugs' gangs. In the first of two articles, examining the nature of County Lines, Tina Orr-Munro interviews Andy Passingham and Paul Maslin, co-founders of www.safeguardinghub.com and experienced police officers specialising in safeguarding.
Opinion: Smart data analysis technology has existed for many years so why haven't forces made the most of it? Clare Elford, Managing Director of Clue which provides investigative software, explores the challenges faced by forces and offers a solution.
ANALYSIS: Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, examines this week's Home Office announcement of the police finance settlement for 2018/19 - and concludes that, "whilst there is some cause for seasonal cheer", the announcement is unlikely to prevent further reductions in the quality and scope of neighbourhood policing.
2017 Review: A surprise General Election and a promise to deliver on law and order following a spate of terrorist attacks, calls to increase funding in the face of the terror threat and economic renewal, historic abuse cases still coming to light, changes in governance for Police and Crime Commissioners and some familiar conundrums with police powers provide the backdrop to Policing Insight’s news review of the year through the eyes of our popular Media Monitor.
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.
OPINION: The BBC are advertising roles that are only open to candidates from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority background, but is this approach to recruitment a step too far for policing? Tom Webb-Skinner, Resourcing Team Leader for British Transport Police, explores the issues.
OPINION: Last month, serving officer Nathan Constable warned the relationship between the College and serving officers was strained, and set out an urgent plea for the College to reflect and rebuild. Here, Rachel Tuffin, acting CEO of the College, responds.
OPINION: Sussex police recently claimed that a fixture between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace represented a return to the 'dark days of football', with the stadium beset by ticketless fans armed with knuckledusters - claims that were later retracted. Chief Supt. Owen West argues that this incident does risk a return to the dark days, in terms of police legitimacy and fan relations, and calls for urgent change.
OPINION: In a report out today, the Centre for Social Justice calls on the Government to give more local freedom to Police and Crime Commissioners to fund the fight against crime. Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice at the CSJ, explains what could be achieved if PCCs raised an additional £180 million locally.
OPINION: Last month, the Police Foundation’s annual conference focused on effective collaboration between the police, partners and communities. In his opening presentation, Dr Rick Muir, director of the Police Foundation offered a number of ways in which this could be achieved.
OPINION: New technologies such as computer vision and machine learning are transforming CCTV and enhancing public safety. James Slessor, Managing Director of Accenture Public Safety, explores the possibilities of the new generation of CCTV.
ANALYSIS: Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) were Introduced as part of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 as a key tool for forces to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination. Former head of West Midlands Police Diversity and Community Cohesion Unit (DCCU) Mick Gillick MBE says not only do forces have a legal and moral duty to use EQIAs, but there are considerable benefits to be had.
OPINION: Following the publication of David Anderson QC's review of the four terrorist attacks this year, Ian Wiggett, formerly Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, examines the wider issues. While counter-terror policing relies on striking the balance between resources, powers and human rights, local policing teams can expect greater demands to be placed on them.
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 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.
