Oceania

Analysis: Professor Karl Roberts takes a closer look at hostage negotiation and examines whether a rigid policy of non-negotiation and police aggression is the only way to deal with terrorist hostage takers.

INSIGHT: AUSTRALIA: For the past two months, Policing Insight's Steve Watts has assisted the New South Wales Government in managing the security of those who have been quarantined during the lockdown on their return to Australia. Here, he gives a unique insight into how effectively NSW Police have quarantined thousands of people to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

INNOVATION: Chief Executive Officer of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) Katherine Van Gurp explains how the Agency's recently published first five-year Strategy focuses on preparing Australia and New Zealand Police for the challenges of the future.

Analysis: Many countries are beginning to ease lockdown restrictions, but as the world charts a path out of the pandemic, the future remains uncertain for all including policing. Assistant Director of Strategic Foresight for the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) Mike Richmond examines the different post-pandemic 'scenarios' that law enforcement may be faced with in the coming months and years.

Analysis: AUSTRALIA: Following the horrific deaths of four Victorian police officers, Dr. Kelly Hine, a lecturer in criminology at Australian National University, looks at how Australian officers are sustaining injuries and other medical conditions, and how often are officers dying in the line of duty.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: An innovative joint initiative between Australia’s Queensland Police Service and Griffith University to educate revellers about the dangers of excess alcohol was awarded Highly Commended in the World Class Policing Awards, sponsored by Accenture. In the tenth of twelve articles focusing on the award winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at this innovative approach to harm reduction through community engagement.

ANALYSIS: As law enforcement across the world adjusts to policing the pandemic, Associate Professor Terry Goldsworthy and Assistant Professor Robyn Lincoln from Bond University explore the role the Australian police forces play in managing this crisis.

Opinion: A new report highlights that Australia’s illicit drug use is rising. Despite policymakers’ best efforts, the country needs to be honest and open to new ideas, says Dr John Coyne, Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

Insight: When the Australian Federal Police's take on 'Love Actually' was released in December 2018, it went viral with 1.3million views in just three days. Manager of AFP's Government and Media Executive Tony Alderman and APF Social Media Manager Laura Haddock discuss the importance of social media for community engagement and how a little humour can be a powerful tool.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: A force-wide initiative to equip officers with smartphones and develop apps that maximise the benefits of mobile working was recognised as a winner at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture. In the fourth of twelve articles focusing on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at the New Zealand Police Mobility Programme.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: A groundbreaking Australian Police medical initiative which equips officers to save lives and increase survival rates for those affected by traumatic injury was named a winner at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture in London. In the second of 12 articles focusing on the award winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at the Tactical First Aid Project (TFAP).

FEATURE: In March 2019, New Zealand suffered its worst ever terrorist attack when 51 innocent people were murdered and dozens injured as they attended Friday Prayer. Speaking at the International Conference of Crime Prevention in Dubai, New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush discusses the implications the attack had for his force’s ‘Prevention First’ policy.

Opinion: When a police officer is killed in the line of duty, it sends shock waves throughout the police service and the wider community, but how can we ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten? Australian-based Police Mental Health Champion Melissa Gole explores the different ways Australia honours its fallen officers.

CONFERENCE REPORT: The number of countries that attended this year's Australia & New Zealand Police Society of Evidence Based Policing Conference in Canberra reflects a growing understanding of the importance of embedding evidence based policing in wider law enforcement activity. Dr Steve Watts gives a flavour of this year's conference.

Analysis: Police officers carrying firearms is an area that has undergone considerable legislative changes in Australia. Professor Rick Sarre, Dean of Law at the University of South Australia, examines what effect these changes have had on officer safety and public protection.

ANALYSIS : Despite public concern, sex offenders cannot remain imprisoned indefinitely; but many schemes do little to rehabilitate such offenders. Jamie Walvisch, Monash University; Kelly Richards, Queensland University of Technology, and Lorana Bartels, Australian National University look at what works to protect the community.

Opinion: Between 2015 and 2017, the cost of organised crime to Australia increased exponentially to $36 billion. Based on the figures, Dr John Coyne from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute argues the current 'Whac-a-Mole' policing approach to tackling the problem isn't working.

ANALYSIS : A new law passed in New Zealand promises to decriminalise drug use in favour of a public health approach. Prof. Max Abbott, Auckland University of Technology, argues that the move is a positive step towards addressing the real impact of drugs - so long as it doesn’t get lost in translation.

Opinion: In a deeply personal account, Australian-based nurse and Mental Health Champion Melissa Gole talks honestly and openly about the impact of living with her partner, a police officer who suffered PTSD after a counter-terror incident, and what helped her through the experience.

Opinion: CoPaCC Director Dr Steve Watts attends the National Policing Summit in Melbourne, Australia on behalf of Policing Insight and discovers that while good policing is the same the world over in protecting communities, Australia is taking an innovative approach to some familiar issues.

NEWS: Policing Insight attended its first international conference in Melbourne, Australia this month. Our staff writer, a stalwart of many police conferences, found the innovative and holistic approach to familiar policing issues at the Australia & New Zealand Police Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) Police Conference 2019 a refreshing experience.

Long Read: Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley has analysed the findings of over 60 different studies of body-worn cameras (BWC) providing an insight into the different perspectives on their effectiveness in gathering evidence, lowering police rates of use of force and violence towards the police.

OPINION: New Zealand Police has established the world's first Evidence-Based Policing Service Centre. New Zealand Police’s Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery Mark Evans OBE explains why it was set up and how Evidence-Based Policing is helping New Zealand 'be the safest country'.

Analysis: In March, 50 people were killed and a further 50 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley takes an in depth look at the impact this tragedy has had on New Zealand as it seeks to make sense of what has happened and to prevent it ever happening again.