ANALYSIS: The Victims’ Commissioner recently called for enhanced support measures under a new Victims Law. One of her more ambitious proposals is the introduction of free and independent lawyers to support rape victims on issues of privacy. Ellen Daly and Dr Olivia Smith of Loughborough University evaluate the scheme and show that legal representation can benefit victims and investigating officers without detriment to fair trial.

OPINION: The rise of the white nationalist movement in the US and the riots at the Capitol in January have led to calls for more powers to target what has been labelled as domestic terrorism; but Professor David Cunningham of Washington University warns that, as attempts to crackdown on the KKK in 1960s America demonstrate, expanding police powers to tackle specific groups can have unintended consequences.

OPINION: Levels of violent crime across America saw an unprecedented increase in 2020; in this latest essay from the Violence Reduction Project, Chicago PD officer L Garcia urges politicians, management and the media to support police in doing what they need to do – target the criminals, keep communities safe, be accountable for their mistakes, and reduce violence across the city.

FEATURE: Just two months after the NPCC launched a programme establishing a network of not-for-profit Cyber Resilience Centres, the UK went into lockdown: Joanna Godard of delivery partners BRIM explains how the project has continued to progress despite COVID-19, and highlights some of the benefits it is already delivering.

INNOVATION: A recent murder investigation by Dubai Police highlighted the significant advances in brainwave science technology as a method of deception detection; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at how P300 could revolutionise lie detector tests, and why a continued focus on polygraph testing may leave the UK criminal justice system behind the times.

FEATURE: Criminal justice systems both across the UK and internationally are exploring the advantages of adopting public health approaches to policing; Superintendent Justin Srivastava of Lancashire Constabulary reports on last month’s @WeCops Twitter chat which focused on the issue, including progress to date and the challenges ahead.

OPINION: Over the past year the issue of data ethics has come increasingly under the spotlight, with issues ranging from exam algorithms to test and trace the subject of everyday conversations; Giles Herdale, former co-chair of the Independent Digital Ethics Panel for Policing, looks at key developments in the police use of data and technology, and the implications of those conversations for UK law enforcement.

INTERVIEW: Following the Home Secretary’s confirmation last week of the recommendations of part one of the police and crime commissioner review, Paddy Tipping, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, spoke to Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter about the implications of the review for PCCs, and what the second stage of the process could mean.

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: Children as young as eight were among rioters involved in six nights of violence in Northern Ireland’s Derry City in 2018, caught up in the sectarian conflict orchestrated by paramilitary gangs; since then a new diversion initiative, led by youth services and involving police and other agencies, has had a significant positive impact, as Policing Insight Contributing Editor Tina Orr Munro reports.

ANALYSIS: What are the benefits of mobile working? When Police Scotland rolled out devices to 11,000 officers, they called on an independent academic team to assess the results - which were overwhelmingly positive. Chief Inspector Martin Gallagher, Deputy Business Lead, outlines the project, alongside Professor Lesley Diack of Robert Gordon University and Dr. William Graham of Abertay University.

INNOVATION: Sniffer dogs are already used by police forces to detect everything from drugs and guns to cash and dead bodies; now police in Derbyshire are pioneering the work of a new breed of forensic dogs that can sniff out tiny traces of semen to support investigations into sexual offences, reports Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

ANALYSIS: Levels of violent crime across America saw an unprecedented increase in 2020; in this latest essay from the Violence Reduction Project, Elijah Anderson, Sterling Professor at Yale University, outlines the ‘code of the streets’ that is contribution to a vicious circle of violence that claims victims Black and white, poor and affluent.

OPINION: Two years on from the horrific terrorist attack on a Christchurch mosque that left 51 people dead, Law Professor Alexander Gillespie looks at the advances in tackling racism, extremism and the terrorist threat in New Zealand, as well as the challenges that still need to be met.

FEATURE: The impact of COVID-19 has included changing crime volumes and trends, with forces having to adapt rapidly and implement new ways of working; Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett spoke to Cheshire Constabulary’s DCS Gareth Lee and DCI Adam Ross about some of the challenges of tackling and investigating crime during the pandemic, and how the experience could drive lasting change.

OPINION: Events that occurred on London’s Clapham Common last weekend received widespread international media coverage, much of which has focused on the nature of policing and querying its appropriateness; Professor Peter Joyce and Dr Wendy Laverick examine some of the key issues regarding the manner in which the event was managed by the Metropolitan Police Service.

INTERVIEW: Managing conflict and challenging conversations is a key skill for all front-line officers, but police leaders also have to navigate difficult conversations with colleagues, commissioners and partners; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth talks to communication and conflict expert Nicole Posner about the challenges of managing conflict, and how to conduct challenging conversations with confidence.

Opinion: In the second of two articles exploring the current spotlight on policing protests, public order specialist and former chief superintendent Owen West assesses the latest HMICFRS report on the issue, and questions the lack of focus on resources, liaison and leadership, as well as the political timing of the publication.

ANALYSIS: New research has highlighted the increased frequency and volume of cocaine shipments into Europe from South America; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen looks at the reasons behind the changes to the drugs market, and how the trade and trafficking routes are likely to evolve in the future. 

FEATURE: A major report into bullying in New Zealand Police has called for a ‘reset of values’ after highlighting a negative culture of fear and punishment, examples of sexist and racist behaviour, and a ‘boys’ club’ based on power relationships and perpetuated by allegiances, cliques and cronyism; but report author Judge Colin Doherty recognised that the service has ‘turned a corner’ under Commissioner Andrew Coster.

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.

POLICING FRIENDSHIP TOUR: Having experienced personal loss as well as the pressures of lockdown over the past 18 months, Policing Insight Publisher Bernard Rix is preparing to embark next month on a walking tour of police forces and associated organisations across the British Isles, raising money for charities while rekindling old and existing friendships, and building many new ones.

OPINION: Governments and police agencies around the world are looking for the most effective ways to tackle organised crime; Australian law enforcement and security analyst Teagan Westendorf believes the introduction of Magnitsky-style legislation and the use of sanctions against major criminals could be a valuable, targeted law-enforcement tool.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Police are busy, and always being pulled in too many different directions. There’s not much time for learning – or is there? This Rapid-Fire conference, supported by Policing Insight, breaks the mould: viewers get 10-minute training sessions that cut straight to the point, rather than having to sit through an hour-long presentation only to conclude they didn’t really get anything from it.