United Kingdom

OPINION: Gary Mason argues that the serious shortcomings of the Bedfordshire police precept referendum may preclude their use in future.

NEWS: Pressure is mounting on Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins after voters overwhelmingly rejected his plans to increase the council tax precept by 15.8%.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, CEO of CoPaCC, shares his experience of the referendum as a resident taking part.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, CEO of CoPaCC, gives his reaction to a night of election drama.

ANALYSIS: Despite both Conservative and Labour outlining manifesto commitments that put victims at the heart of criminal justice policy, Simon Bullock, former Director of Policy for the Bedfordshire PCC, says a one size fits all policy will not be enough.

ANALYSIS: Peter Neyroud remarks on the absence of discussion on the future of policing during the General Election.

IN THE NEWS: Gary Mason reviews the past week’s national and local police news in the media.

NEWS: In an unusual foray into operational policing the PCC of Dyfed Powys is asking residents to take part in a survey on whether they think officers should be routinely armed on duty.

NEWS: Two police and crime commissioners say they have been forced to make substantial cuts to the number of PCSOs employed by their forces in an attempt to balance the books.

EXCLUSIVE: Nick Alatti talks to Christopher Salmon, PCC of the largest and most sparsely populated police force area in England and Wales, about the future of PCCs after the General Election and his priorities and achievements locally.

General Election: Does the General Election offer a genuine choice for policing in England and Wales? Tim Brain QPM examines the Coalition's record in government and the main parties' manifestos.

Exclusive: Kevin Hurley, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey talks to Royston Martis about the performance of PCCs, the future of PCCs and how the upcoming General Election could affect police governance.

NEWS: Preventing police officers from resigning ahead of disciplinary arrangements stops forces recruiting new officers or covering a suspended officer’s workload, a Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

Analysis: Barry Loveday, Reader in Criminal Justice Administration at Portsmouth University, examines police management and workforce reform under the Coalition including the creation of PCCs, the Winsor Report and increased outsourcing and collaboration

OPINION: Steve White, Chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales, explains the importance of partnership in policing with a backdrop of austerity and cuts to policing resources.

ANALYSIS: U.K police forces are today being challenged by a pace of change unprecedented since Sir Robert Peel first established the Metropolitan Police Service in London in 1829. Muz Janoowalla discusses the transformational changes in technology for policing in the future.

Analysis: Security and policing expert Nick Newman examines the case for transforming the approach to policing cybercrime.

RESOURCE: A brief profile of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

RESOURCE: An explanation of why and when PCC's came about plus an explanation of the legislation underpinning their creation

RESOURCE: An outline of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners and Police Crime Panels including the relationship with the chief constable