Government

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises HMICFRS inspection of police forces' call-handling and contact management centres in 2018/19

OPINION: With increasing attacks and abuse on the streets, vilification online and a seeming lack of support from some politicians, the sense of a growing anti-police sentiment – added to the frustration many officers already felt – is damaging officer welfare. Owen West believes it's time for the NPCC to take the lead in promoting public service, preventing a siege mentality, and protecting officers and staff.

OPINION: As the prospects of a negotiated Brexit agreement diminish, Dr Paul Swallow, Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University's School of Law, Criminal Justice and Policing, outlines why he believes a no-deal Brexit will inevitably weaken the UK’s position on international security.

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor's overview of the state of policing in England and Wales in 2019/20 including the policing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANALYSIS: Recent events in the United States have led to calls for more training and credentialing to reduce the use of excessive force by police. Dr. Leana Bouffard of Iowa State University and Dr. Gaylene Armstrong of the University of Nebraska provide five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree so they are better equipped to lead much-needed reform.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Dr Ben Stickle, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Administration at Middle Tennessee State University, explores the trend of 'porch piracy' in the US during the Covid-19 pandemic and how agencies have responded to this.

OPINION: The 'de-fund the police' movement has been gaining traction in the United States, and similar debates are happening this side of the Atlantic. But far from being a threat to law enforcement, Owen West believes de-funding policing in favour of resourcing other support agencies is a real opportunity for constructive change.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Policing Insight readers are invited to watch the recording of our recent webinar, hosted jointly with Drivetech, in which a panel of leading figures from the world of roads policing considered the potential impact of changes set to be made in 2024, which will require the installation of mandatory safety equipment in all new vehicles. Drivetech’s Managing Director, Charlie Norman, gives his reflections on the event.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Professor Betsy Stanko OBE and Dr Jyoti Belur from the Jill Dando Institute UCL and Dr Katrin Hohl from City University of London examine the impact of the pandemic lockdown on domestic abuse and offer insights on the way forward.

Analysis: In the past twenty years, policing in Northern Ireland has transformed itself to become more representative of the communities it serves. Adjunct Professor at City University of New York Dr. Laura Weinstein and Assistant Professor at Emory University Dr. Donald Beaudette examine policing in Northern Ireland and the potential lessons for US police forces.

Insight: Once the legal process relating to cases of sexual abuse or violence is completed, it's often the families of victims who are left to pick up the pieces, acting as carers for their loved ones, in some cases for many years. Restitute founder Cath Pickles shares the experiences of her own family following her daughter's disclosure of sexual abuse, and highlights the need for more effective early interventions and better support for all families supporting victims.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Nadine L. Salman and Dr Paul Gill from the UCL Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science discuss the terrorist threat during the coronavirus pandemic and how the lockdown has increased the risk of radicalisation online.

Analysis: At 9.9 million square kilometres, the UK can fit into Canada 40 times. Perivale and Taylor Consulting Vice President Robert Taylor and Senior Associate and Police ICT Specialist Kevin McQuiggin examine how policing has evolved in this vast country.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Professor Nick Tilley, UCL Jill Dando Institute, and Professor Ray Pawson, Leeds University, examine the factors impacting behaviour during the pandemic and suggest a way forward to securing voluntary compliance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: How the police have responded to enforcing the lockdown in the UK has received considerable attention. Ben Bradford, Zoe Hobson, Arabella Kyprianides and Julia Yesberg from the Jill Dando Institute, UCL plus Jonathan Jackson and Krisztián Pósch from the Methodology department of LSE look back and discuss the public's compliance with these tactics over the duration of the lockdown.

Analysis: A survey carried out by Working the Doors, which represents UK door staff, on the relationship between door staff and the police has revealed a lack of communication and, in some cases, a misunderstanding of each others' roles. Working the Doors Content Manager Steve Johnson explores the survey's results in detail.

analysis: USA: Community groups and protesters are calling for major reforms of policing - including defunding and even disbanding forces - in the fallout from the killing of George Floyd. But, as Dr Jill McCorkel explains, the strength of police unions across the USA, together with protective legislation, represent a significant barrier to meaningful change.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: In Australia, both the Covid-19 infection rate and the number of fatalities have been relatively low compared with other countries. In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, the Commissioner of Queensland Police Service Katarina Carroll explains how their '3 Cs' strategy - compassion, communication and compliance - was pivotal to the success of the policing operation.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: The COVID-19 pandemic has been exploited by some criminals selling fake medical and health products. Dr. Manja Nikolovska and Professor Shane Johnson, Director at the Dawes Centre for future crime at UCL, examine how criminals have preyed on people's fear and vulnerability and how this type of crime can be prevented.

Opinion: Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia Thalia Anthony says Australia is appalled by racist police violence in the United States, but does not confront discrimination within its own criminal justice system against First Nations people.

Insight: The UK introduced new quarantine laws for those entering the UK earlier this month. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth explores the nature of these new restrictions and the ability of Border Force and the police to enforce them.

Analysis: The UK is going through an unprecedented time. Barely out of austerity, it has had to contend with a pandemic alongside the impact of events happening elsewhere in the world. Professor Peter Joyce and Dr Wendy Laverick look back over the last few months and examine some of the triggers that could lead to widespread disorder.

Analysis: As the world comes to terms with the impact of Covid-19, Professor Karl Roberts, Professor Alex Broadbent and Professor Benjamin Smart examine how some African countries have policed the lockdown.

INTERVIEW: Kenya has a long history of policing with excessive force, often resulting in unnecessary deaths. Recently, at least six people died from police violence during the first 10 days of a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Douglas Kivoi, an expert on police reform and policy, to shed light on the situation.