National security and policing agencies

Interview: Last year, the Internet Watch Foundation marked its 20th anniversary.  Policing Insight talks to CEO Susie Hargreaves OBE about the organisation's changing role and its relationship with its police partners. 

ANALYSIS: The Home Affairs Select Committee has recently launched an inquiry into policing for the future, examining changing demands and new challenges. In the first of two articles for Policing Insight, crime expert and author Tom Gash suggests the Committee needs to focus their attention on cybercrime.

NEWS: CoPaCC is to undertake a major new Thematic, "Unlocking the Power of Police ICT". Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, provides more details.

ANALYSIS: Ian Wiggett, CoPaCC Director and former Greater Manchester Police ACC, reflects on the current state of police ICT, and argues that much greater collaboration on ICT between forces is urgently needed.

OPINION: Last week’s Police ICT Summit signalled a welcome step in a positive direction, says Clare Elford, Managing Director of Clue, a technology company providing specialist investigative software. But suggests it's now time for a greater focus on effective engagement with smaller technology providers.

NEWS: This conference marks the end of a three year funded research programme supported by the ESRC and UK College of Policing to support the What Works Centre for Crime Reduction. Key speakers include: Alex Marshall, CEO of the College of Policing; David Halpern, National Adviser on What Works, Cabinet Office; Professor Malcolm Sparrow, Harvard University; Sara Thornton, Head of the National Police Chiefs' Council.

OPINION: Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive and Policing Insight Publisher, draws on the first day of the Police ICT Summit to examine why the Police ICT Company has substantial challenges ahead, and calls on PCCs and Chief Constables to show that they support the Company in its work.

NEWS: This Live Blog covers Day Two of the "Delivering Transformational Reform Together" Summit taking place in Leicestershire on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th January 2017.

NEWS: This Live Blog covers Day One of the "Delivering Transformational Reform Together" Summit taking place in Leicestershire on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th January 2017.

analysis: Sixteen years ago, I interviewed a custody officer who, tired of waiting for the much delayed NSPIS Case Preparation and Custody IT system, worked with a supplier to develop his own version for his force. The experience summed up Police IT then and for many years to come.

OPINION: Ian Wiggett, CoPaCC Associate and former Greater Manchester Police ACC, casts an expert eye over the Vision published last week by NPCC and APCC, which indicates agreement about the challenges ahead. But will there be sufficient consensus amongst key wider stakeholders to see these challenges addressed?

ANALYSIS: In October, Lord Toby Harris published his review of London’s preparedness for terrorist attacks, commissioned by the Mayor of London. Former Greater Manchester ACC Ian Wiggett examines the report's implications for the country, not just the capital.

OPINION: Part of the role of @wecops since its inception has been to provide a way for front line officers to have an open debate about key issues - and for that to be picked up by senior leadership. Last week's debate on the National Crime Agency (NCA) offered exactly that opportunity. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University summarises the debate, hosted by Director General of the NCA Lynne Owens.

BREXIT - Implications for policing: Former ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde's keynote speech to the CoPaCC "Brexit: Implications for policing and security" event on Wednesday, 14th September 2016

OPINION: The latest NFU report on rural crime showed marked variations in some crime types and between local force areas. But which interventions are working? Nick Alston, former Essex PCC and now Chair of the newly launched Policing Institute for the Eastern Region, calls for more research into what works to reduce rural - and other - crime.

OPINION: The Curtis Review on the use of targets in policing was published in December 2015, but little actual change appears to have taken place. Simon Guilfoyle revisits the debate and calls once more for the fundamental transformation of performance management in the police service.

ANALYSIS: New media guidelines proposed by the College of Policing could impose strict new rules on contacts between police officers and journalists. Carina O'Reilly asks if they will protect the police, or smother vital relationships built on mutual understanding.

OPINION: Are Triage schemes doing their job in mental health emergencies? Serving police officer 'Nathan Constable' warns police forces could be heading down a dead end track with no way to turn around.

ANALYSIS: Ahead of the imminent, potentially massive, changes to Fire and Rescue Service organisation and structure, former Editor of Policing Today Philip Mason asks if the government has learnt from mistakes made during its parallel reform of the Police Service

ANALYSIS: Former HMI Robin Field-Smith examines why there have been problems in attracting candidates for Chief Constable positions, and offers some pointers for newly elected PCCs

ANALYSIS: Sandra Andrews examines the College of Policing's recent consultation on proposals to introduce academic recognition for both existing workforce and new joiners

ANALYSIS: Ian Wiggett, former Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable, looks at how PCCs and forces can together retain the confidence of the public during critical incidents

ANALYSIS: The IPCC’s recent report on police use of force has generated much praise and some grumbles. Stephen Roberts of Vigilant Research identifies some important lessons for assessing how police forces capture and analyse information

OPINION: Jim Mallen, Chair of Bedfordshire Police Federation, examines the IPCC's recent "Use of Force" report and considers its transition to the Office for Police Conduct