United Kingdom

OPINION: Rich Honess is a former frontline officer now teaching on the in-service degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. As such, he gets asked questions, particularly about degree-level entry to the police service. Here, Rich tries to summarise some of the answers to the questions he's been asked.

ANALYSIS: With the use of automated facial recognition technology under challenge, video surveillance specialist Cloudview asked leading cyberlaw academic Professor Andrew Charlesworth to assess the regulatory position. His report concludes that an independent review is the only way forward if the technology is to be used without alienating the public.

ANALYSIS: Our latest Report Watch takes a look at the charity Transform Justice's report 'Love, fear and control — does the criminal justice system reduce domestic abuse?' which examines and evaluates the criminal justice system's current approach to tackling domestic abuse.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: There are plenty of generic scheduling solutions that work great for organisations with simple shift patterns or your typical 9-5. InTime’s mission is to provide advanced scheduling and workforce management tools for complex organisations that don’t fit that mould.

Opinion: Naloxone is increasingly used by US law enforcement to prevent loss of life from opoids. With more than half of overdoses in England and Wales in 2017 involving opiates, APCC Lead for Alcohol and Substance Misuse and Derbyshire PCC Hardyal Dhindsa says that, as first responders, it's time to consider equipping UK police with the drug.

OPINION: Tri-service safety officers in Cornwall are already attracting national interest. Evan Morris MBE, former Head of Community Safety for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Chief Fire Officers' Association lead on Ageing Safely Strategy first proposed the idea in 2000 and believes the national implementation of such a policy would make a significant difference to rural communities.

ANALYSIS: The way ambulance services use social media has lessons for police - particularly in their focus on the humanity of paramedics. Dan Slee of comms2point0 looks at the best of ambulance service communications and what other blue light services can learn.

Analysis: With an online crime reported to police every ten minutes, forces are investing in cyber security training. In the final of our three part series focusing on cyber-crime, CEO and co-founder of Cyber Security Intelligence Alfred Rolington says whilst forces are making progress, there's a long way to go.

OPINION: In a report out today, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) argues that - through an approach called Group Violence Intervention (GVI) - it is possible to change the dynamics in gangs and drive down violence. Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice at the CSJ, sets out the background to the CSJ's latest report, and argues that failing to implement GVI will consign more young people to a lawless existence.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Policing Insight has over a thousand in depth articles on a wide range of policing issues. In our SPOTLIGHT ON series we group articles under one subject heading allowing you quick and easy reference when you need it. Here, we tackle spit guards or hoods which have recently returned to the spotlight following the MPS' decision not to issue them to frontline officers.

Opinion: In October 2017, Sherry Ralph, COO for the Independent Custody Visiting Association highlighted the problem of custody suites routinely failing women experiencing their period. Fast forward ten months and the Home Office has just released consultation on revising PACE Codes C and H to ensure women are treated with dignity. IVCA Chief Executive Katie Kempen explains why the changes are vital.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at HMICFRS's Understanding the difference - The initial response to hate crime, published in July.

OPINION: After two and a half years as a Chief Inspector overseeing Paisley, serving officer Martin Gallagher is moving on. Here, he describes the lessons he's learned about leading police officers in one of the busiest Sub-Divisions in the country.

ANALYSIS: Knife crime is rising, and many have speculated about the causes of the rise - but what do we actually know about the reasons young people carry weapons? Dr Iain Brennan, Reader in Criminology at the University of Hull, explains his important new research.

OPINION: Following the publication of the UNISON survey that revealed widespread sexual harassment of civilian staff, Head of Development at CMP Solutions Richard Peachey offers a way forward for senior managers. 

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 government has accepted The Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation that forces should appoint apprentice constables on a starting salary of between £18,000 and pay point 1 (£23,586), but Police Federation Professional Development lead Dave Bamber warns it could drive the new entrants into debt.

Project Galileo: Project Galileo represents a fundamental rethink of how we can make a difference to tackling harm on our roads. In the latest in a series of articles on the ground-breaking work of the project, criminologist Dr Helen Wells explains her role as academic adviser to Project Galileo, including the significance of behavioural change and procedural justice approaches to the project’s work.

LEGAL INSIGHT: NEW SERIES: In our latest new series, Geoffrey Monaghan, a retired detective and former Staff Officer to the ACPO Drugs Sub-Committee, explores the legal issues that impact policing. In his first article, Geoff takes a look at forthcoming legislation to combat 'upskirting' but will it help or hinder the police?

ANALYSIS: With the on-going debate on the legal status of cannabis, Charlie Lloyd, Geoff Page and Sharon Grace from York University discuss the results of their research in North Yorkshire looking at the day-to-day policing of cannabis possession and analysis of the data on drug possession offences. The research raises important questions about how police forces in England and Wales should deal with this common but to some, trivial, offence.

ANALYSIS: With the end of one World Cup, attention is turning to the next, due to be held in Qatar in 2022. But what is the best way of ensuring a peaceful competition? Lucy Strang and Christian van Stolk of RAND Europe explore the evidence.

OPINION: With increasing pressure on police both from budget cuts and rising crime, how can forces best adapt? Giovanni Gaccione of Genetec Ltd calls for a focus on connecting up existing technologies, breaking down silos, and tapping into the vast array of information already available.

INTERVIEW: The National Apprenticeship Scheme is an alternative route for young people to progress into a rewarding career. For 18 year old Rebecca Suddaby, a one year administration apprenticeship at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Humberside has led to her gaining valuable experience to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer. We speak with Rebecca to hear her story….

Opinion: With twenty-five years policing experience under his belt, Devon and Cornwall Chief Inspector Stephen Lenney takes a closer look at frontline policing and the pressures it faces and asks whether it is time for a complete rethink on policing and its processes.