Authorised Professional Practice (APP)

OPINION: The recent Domestic Homicide Project report highlights that, for the third year running, suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse in England and Wales have overtaken the number of homicides involving current or previous partners; Policing Lecturer Lee Curran, of the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, explores the vital role police officers have to play in recognising the links between domestic abuse and suicide, and the potential for early intervention.

OPINION: In the first of three articles exploring UK policing’s ‘software archipelago’ – the interlocking landscape of platforms, systems, tools and infrastructure – organisational psychologist Michael Stephenson looks at the growing focus on organisations developing their own software using AI prompts, and why issues such as the regulatory complexity of policing systems means that in most (but not) all cases, buying rather than building is still the best option.

ANALYSIS: The UK’s recently published Policing and Media Charter, which comes just weeks after new College of Policing guidance on media and communications, is viewed by many as a much-needed reset of the relationship between police and the media; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, a subject matter expert in police communications, spoke to Crime Reporters Association Chair Rebecca Camber and NPCC Chair Gavin Stephens about the background to the charter, its aims, and the practical difference it will make to that relationship.

ANALYSIS: Following several reviews and inquiries examining the way policing in England and Wales communicates with the public, the College of Policing has published updated authorised professional practice (APP) for media and communications, with the aim of bring greater clarity; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, a subject matter expert in communication and community engagement, explores the key measures highlighted in the guidance, and shares College CEO Sir Andy Marsh’s views on what the APP is intended to achieve.

FEATURE: Recent research into the frontline police responses to domestic abuse incidents involving children highlights the inconsistent and sometimes inadequate service provided by officers to young people, with pressure on time and resources, ‘compassion fatigue’, and a lack of confidence or training in navigating conversations with children among the reasons, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

INNOVATION: An evidence-based review of Thames Valley Police’s deployment of its Tactical Cycle unit in public order operations is calling on the College of Policing to develop Authorised Professional Practice for the approach, in an effort to encourage other forces in England and Wales to adopt the agile and versatile resource that can also improve public engagement and build trust and confidence, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: A new report from the National Police Chiefs’ Council on the progress made by forces in England and Wales into responding to and investigating stalking has found that many forces have made significant improvements since launching new actions plans last year, but warns that financial constraints, inexperienced staff and the growing use of technology in stalking are all presenting major challenges for policing, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: The first report in a two-part review of the police response to extensive disorder across England and Wales last summer has praised officers for their “immense bravery”, but has highlighted concerns over the capacity and capability of forces to respond to such widespread violent disorder, the speed with which resources are mobilised, and the wellbeing support for frontline officers, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: A new Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan launched in the UK by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service commits police and prosecutors to work together more effectively and at earlier stages of investigations in order to increase successful judicial outcomes as well as improving the service to victims, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: In the last in a series of five articles looking at the big debates in police use of facial recognition (FR), extracted from this year’s ‘Facing the future: The rise of facial recognition in policing’ report, Policing Insight’s James Sweetland explores the remarkable global variations in the legal and regulatory frameworks governing FR use, and whether a more effective approach can balance the obvious risks against the potential benefits to secure the best possible outcomes for public safety.

FEATURE: The latest Race Discrimination Report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct has highlighted continuing racial disparities in the use of police powers such as stop and search, and called on forces to address disproportionality in an effort to end the cycle of mistrust in minority ethnic communities, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: With law enforcement playing a vital role in the planning, preparation and response to major disasters, the increasing number of catastrophic weather events – such as the recent devastating flooding in Spain – have highlighted the challenges authorities face in relation to vulnerable victims; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth takes a closer look at the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which identifies those vulnerable groups most at risk, and the steps that need to be taken to address that risk.

ANALYSIS: The State of Policing: Annual Assessment 2023, published by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke, has found that the failure of forces in England and Wales to “get the basics right” is continuing to damage trust and confidence in the service, while “unacceptably high” workloads, significant levels of inexperience among officers, and an “outdated and unfair” funding formula are adding to the policing challenges, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

FEATURE: Chief constables in England and Wales are planning a strategy to promote policing history and say it will link to the National Police Race Action Plan and their work to prevent violence against women and girls; Policing Insight’s Ian Weinfass spoke to national lead on police heritage Peter Gillett and other experts to explore the issue.

OPINION: This month saw the launch of a new UK Code of Ethics by the College of Policing; but former officer and now author and University of Central Lancashire Policing Lecturer Derek Flint believes the revised code is so lengthy and wide ranging that the core messages may well be lost, while also providing barristers or IOPC investigators with a means by which to trip up staff and officers who are trying their level best.

INTERVIEW: In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, Policing Minister Chris Philp told James Sweetland why he believes that dramatically increasing the use of facial recognition can transform policing and help forces across England and Wales catch wanted criminals.

FEATURE: The latest report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services into the police response to group-based child sexual exploitation in England and Wales has found that inconsistent definitions are fuelling a lack of understanding of the scale of the issue, with some officers still engaging in victim-blaming language, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: Recent suggestions that policing could use facial recognition more widely – including to check against the UK passport database to identify shoplifters – prompted an outcry from some MPs, academics and campaigners; but Dr Asress Gikay, Senior Lecturer in AI, Disruptive Innovation and Law at London’s Brunel University, believes the benefit the tech delivers, public support, and existing safeguards mean campaigns to stop the police use of facial recognition are likely to fail.

ANALYSIS: An inspection report into policing’s contribution in England and Wales to the prevention of homicide has highlighted a range of concerns in some forces including a lack of oversight by chief officers, a shortage of analysts, a “misplaced confidence” in the ability to link precursor incidents, and an inadequate allocation of resources to manage the most dangerous people that represents a “failure to protect the public”, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: The College of Policing, the first professional body for police in England and Wales, has now been operational for a decade; in the first of a two-part series of features marking the anniversary, Policing Insight’s Ian Weinfass gauges the views of its creator Peter Neyroud and other important figures about how it has performed in that time.

ANALYSIS: With inspectorate reports highlighting concerns over the use of anti-rip clothing in police custody, the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) recently undertook a pilot project with Dyfed Powys Police to improve the monitoring, recording and risk assessments around the use of such clothing, with a long-term aim of ending the measure altogether, as ICVA Interim Chief Executive Sherry Ralph explains.

FEATURE: Continuing the latest series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the issue of plurality in policing, from the earliest days of the ‘New Police’ to the latest law enforcement and social control roles carried out by the state as well as private and third-sector organisations, and underlines the importance for policing of recognising the opportunities and dangers presented by non-police actors.

ANALYSIS: This month’s report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services highlighted significant issues around the vetting of police officers – both new recruits and those already in service; as HMICFRS begins publishing individual force inspections on the same topic, Policing Insight’s Graham Wettone looks at the concerns highlighted by the original report, the recommendations for improvement, and what the service should be doing to protect policing and the public against potential misconduct and corruption.

FEATURE: Continuing the latest series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly takes a closer look at the key issues around the police use of force, including the challenges around the ways the use of force is measured (and any data interpreted), the guidelines on when and how officers can use force, and why wider work on public confidence is crucial to ensuring the use of force doesn’t damage police legitimacy.