OPINION: Automated facial recognition technology is now being trialled by British police forces. However, there are serious potential human rights issues associated with the use of such surveillance. Joe Purshouse of the University of East Anglia and Liz Campbell of Monash University explore the issues, and call for stronger legislation to govern the technology.
Interview: The Centre for Justice Innovation has published what it says is the most complete survey of point-of-arrest diversion schemes in England and Wales which are intended to tackle low level criminal behaviour. Research Officer Carmen Robin-D'Cruz brings us up to speed on the current provision in England and Wales.
12th February 2019
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Digital Evidence Management systems are now critical for today’s investigations but how can the police be sure they are investing in the right technology? Jamie Wilson discusses the need for forces to share best practice - as well as digital information - and announces the Transformational Global Policing Summit as the perfect forum to discuss and share that knowledge
INSIGHT: The public rightly expects to submit digital evidence quickly and easily to the police, but many forces do not have the technology to facilitate this, compelling officers to physically retrieve the device that captured the evidence, but what if your force covers an area of nearly 2,700 square miles?
OPINION: Policing is a can-do service, but what happens when illness or disability mean that you can't? Colin Paine is a Detective Chief Superintendent in Thames Valley Police. Here he reflects on his diagnosis of ME/CFS.
ANALYSIS: In the mid-2000s, Glasgow was known as the murder capital of Europe. Now London Mayor Sadiq Khan is trying some of Scotland's solutions - but will they travel? Prof. Susan McVie, Ellie Bates, and Rebecca Pillinger of the University of Edinburgh examine long-term changes in violence and ask whether there really is evidence of Scottish exceptionalism.
Analysis: Traditional responses to trafficking focus on disrupting criminal networks and protecting the victims, but a European project is taking a different approach including ways to reduce demand for the services of those who are trafficked. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth explores the drivers of this $12bn a year crime.
29th January 2019
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Crime is changing, demand is growing, and policing itself is undergoing relentless transformation. Are you ready to meet the next wave of challenges? Anglia Ruskin’s postgraduate courses are designed specifically for serving officers and staff - to prepare you to adapt and to lead the next generation of policing.
ANALYSIS: Media reports suggest a surge in 'Albanian mafia' involvement in drug trafficking and organised crime. However, Anna Sergi of the University of Essex warns that this misrepresents the role of Albanian offenders and networks, and damages our understanding of the complexities of organised crime, and the global Albanian diaspora.
INSIGHT: How do you continue to effectively police a large rural force area when you’ve lost nearly 500 police officers in the last eight years? Devon and Cornwall Police believe they may have the answer with their new community responders - on-call firefighters who are also warranted police officers.
INTERVIEW: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has launched a major new TV campaign for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to be heard at the Truth Project. Head of Truth Project and Strategy Helen Ryan and Chris Tuck, a member of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel and a survivor of child sexual abuse, explain the importance of the Project.
NEWS: Issues with the Athena system, used by nine UK police forces to share intelligence and build case files, were highlighted on the BBC this week but CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey shows the problems are not confined to Athena. Scroll down to listen to the Police Federation's Simon Kempton and Policing Insight's publisher and CoPaCC Chief Executive Bernard Rix being interviewed about the challenges facing police ICT.
OPINION: Calls for public access to information about child sex offenders living in local areas are common. However, Maggie Hall of Western Sydney University warns that sex offender registries can also lead to community hysteria, loss of sleep, and vigilante attacks on innocent people.
Interview: On the eve of this year's Police ICT Summit Policing Insight talks to one of this year's exhibitors, Simon Hall who is the co-founder and CEO of Coeus Software, about the barriers to police ICT and how their technology reflects the Policing Vision 2025.
Interview: Following the rogue drone chaos at Gatwick Airport last month, Policing Insight asks international drone detection expert Professor Garik Markarian of Lancaster University, and CEO of Rinicom Ltd, to explain the operational challenges of detecting illegal drone activity and how authorities can develop their capabilities to prevent further incidents.
13th January 2019
ANALYSIS: Though the number of recorded crimes is rising, the proportion of those crimes that are detected is falling. Professor Marian FitzGerald of the University of Kent explores the figures.
8th January 2019
NEWS: BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which will take place on Wednesday 3rd to Thursday 4th July 2019. Put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now! CoPaCC Chief Executive and Policing Insight Publisher, Bernard Rix, sets out why you should attend...
LONG READ: Can history help tackle current policing issues? Devon and Cornwall Police Superintendent Jim Gale examines how the police service's rich heritage can support today's police leaders in maintaining the centuries-old 'social contract' between police and public.
OPINION: The issue of disclosure has made its way into the public domain, thanks to the collapse of high-profile trials. Mark Bedding, a former police officer now with Chorus Intelligence, argues that many police officers already have access to the technology they need to make disclosure simpler.
4th January 2019
OPINION: As Israel joins the Netherlands and Canada in legalising medicinal cannabis, serving officer Martin Gallagher warns that there are significant and largely unexplored potential consequences of legalisation - not least, the future for organised crime groups currently operating in the cannabis trade.
