Latest News, Analysis and Opinion  (Page 96)

FEATURE: An independent evaluation of the national Liaison and Diversion scheme undertaken in police custody suites and courts across England has found that the programme may halve the likelihood of service users being jailed, and save the criminal justice system up to £41.5 million.

OPINION: Both the Commission for Countering Extremism and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services have put forward new terminology to describe extremist organisations and activities in the UK; but Professor Chris Allen of the University of Leicester believes the new definitions could create more problems than they solve.

OPINION: Levels of violent crime across America saw an unprecedented increase in 2020; in this latest essay from the Violence Reduction Project, former police officer and current police reservist Steve Bellow outlines what Black communities want from policing – and why its important to listen to the people, rather than experts, academics and civic leaders.

OPINION: The findings of the recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report have been called into question by a number of campaign and community groups; but police ethics advisor Montell Neufville believes that among the recommendations are some important messages for prospective PCCs and mayors on public scrutiny and police-community relations.

FEATURE: The recent riots in Northern Ireland have been blamed on the Brexit sea border controversy and the decision not to prosecute Republican mourners over a COVID-19 funeral breach; but a recent review of terrorism legislation warns that delays and failures in the country’s criminal justice system could exacerbate the issues, as Policing insight’s Andrew Staniforth explains.

OPINION: Serious public disorder has been a regular feature of news bulletins in recent weeks, from Bristol and Clapham Common to Belfast and Ballymena; public order expert and former chief superintendent Owen West believes a lack of clarity over coronavirus regulation has been a major factor – and if unresolved, could lead to a summer of potentially violent unrest.

ANALYSIS: With countries across Europe engaged in their own efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the latest Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment from Europol suggests COVID-19 could be a key driver in future organised crime, alongside geopolitical changes and the online criminal economy, reports Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons.

UK PCC ELECTIONS 2021: With less than two months to go to the police and crime commissioner elections for the English and Welsh forces, Policing Insight is launching its in-depth coverage. We’ll be constantly updating our tracker so you’ll be able to check out the candidates as they declare their intention to stand. Policing Insight’s Publisher Bernard Rix takes a look at the field so far.

ANALYSIS: Vulnerability is increasingly important to operational policing - but how can these complex narratives be best embedded in police education? Jennifer Norman and Dr Emma Williams of the Open University discuss the development of an interdisciplinary approach.

LATEST RESEARCH: 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 UK's National Police Library. You do not need to be a member of the UK College of Policing to access its library.

FEATURE: Continuing a new series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the key issue of ‘What is policing?’ In this article she looks at a range of models that have been used to try to represent or modify how policing works in different countries, and also examines the leading contemporary model of Evidence-Based Policing.

ANALYSIS: Despite frequent large seizures and law enforcement agency successes, the supply of illicit drugs into Australia continues to grow; In their latest report, Dr John Coyne and Dr Teagan Westendorf of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute examine the expanding nature of the country’s international narcotics supply chain, and what steps can be taken to disrupt it.

FEATURE: Forty years ago this month, rioting erupted in Brixton – and later in 1981 across the country – leading to one of the most significant inquiries into policing in the UK; in the first of a two-part feature, Dr Wendy Laverick of Hull University and Professor Peter Joyce of Wrexham Glyndŵr University explore the context and key recommendations for police reform from the Scarman report.

OPINION: Canada already has strict gun laws in place, at least in comparison to its US neighbour; but Carleton University’s Noah Schwartz believes that attempts to introduce new American-style firearms legislation could create confusion and inconsistencies, while doing little to dissuade criminals from using guns.

OPINION: Levels of violent crime across America saw an unprecedented increase in 2020; in this latest essay from the Violence Reduction Project, former NYPD Chief of Department Louis Anemone sets out some specific policing strategies for reducing violence in the city, including increased solo foot patrols, a reduction in specialised roles, and an embargo on sworn officers filling administrative posts.

OPINION: While COVID-19 and other immediate challenges have seen many sectors including policing focus on the present, the challenges of the future still need to be considered and addressed; Police Superintendents’ Association President Paul Griffiths looks at some of the key issues highlighted by futures thinking, and the steps the service should be taking to address them.

FEATURE: As religious worshippers around the world celebrate Easter – one of the main events in the Christian calendar – Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on latest efforts by law enforcement agencies across Europe to protect places of worship from terrorist attack and hate crimes.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: We Fight Fraud Live 2021, proudly supported by LexisNexis Risk Solutions and media partner Policing Insight, is the only live global event which helps you understand the criminals who threaten businesses. The event takes place on 28th April 2021 - be sure to register your place today.

OPINION: The murder of Sarah Everard, and the review into the policing of the Clapham Common vigil, have highlighted key issues around police action in the UK and public confidence; London Policing College Director Rod Jarman, a former senior Met Police officer, explores some of those wider concerns, and outlines steps the service could take to promote reassurance and real change.

FEATURE: Research by the Revolving Doors Agency has highlighted the impact of trauma and poverty on young adults, and urged policing to adopt a ‘smarter approach’ to divert young adults from the spiral of repeat offending; Lancashire Chief Constable Andy Rhodes is among those calling for change, including mandatory trauma training for officers, as Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons reports.

POLICING FRIENDSHIP TOUR: From maps and medical supplies to sleeping bags and the SmartLav+, preparations are now well underway for Policing Insight Publisher Bernard Rix, as he gets ready to embark on the Policing Friendship Tour, a walking tour of UK police forces to raise funds and awareness of police wellbeing; but with lockdown restrictions still limiting accommodation options, suitable sites to pitch a tent are at a premium – so can you help?

LATEST RESEARCH: 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 UK's National Police Library. You do not need to be a member of the UK College of Policing to access its library.

ANALYSIS: A new report on the global illicit economy and the activities of transnational organised crime groups has warned that the impact of the pandemic could see many criminal networks growing in power and influence; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen looks at the predicted trajectory for OCGs, as well as some of the steps that could be taken to halt them.

OPINION: With UK policing seemingly under constant scrutiny and a barrage of criticism, former Derbyshire Police officer Rob Smallwood, now a Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University's Institute of Policing, considers what drives allegiance to policing, and the sense of shared commitment to the police oath.