Operational policing

OPINION: Rural crime costs millions of pounds and can be devastating for victims – but is often overshadowed by urban demand. Cambridgeshire PCC Jason Ablewhite, who grew up on a farm, explains how the Rural Crime Action team - many of whom have farming backgrounds themselves - is building confidence in the police in rural communities.  

Analysis: Last month, North Yorkshire Police became the second police force in England and Wales to introduce misogyny as a separate hate crime category after Nottinghamshire Police introduced it last year, but how many other forces are likely to follow suit?

Analysis: Former Assistant Chief Constable for Greater Manchester Police Ian Wiggett examines the options facing law enforcement following the terror attack in Westminster last month.

Exclusive: The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, responds to a recent article in Policing Insight critical of the Emergency Services Network. Brandon Lewis MP explains why the government is working to move from the TETRA radio communications system, known as Airwave, currently in use by the police, ambulance and fire and rescue service, to a national integrated network using 4G Long Term Evolution mobile technology

OPINION: The death of Ian Tomlinson in 2009 during the G20 protests led to a fundamental re-examination of public order policing in the UK. But why has that learning not been embedded in the policing of football crowds? Chief Superintendent Owen West of West Yorkshire Police reports from an expert seminar at Keele University, and asks what are the police waiting for?

OPINION: Surveillance cameras have proliferated in recent years, leading the government to establish a commissioner responsible for overseeing their governance. Prof. William Webster examines the Commissioner's new strategy for surveillance - and warns that any regulatory framework needs to be able to keep up with a rapid pace of change.

Opinion: The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults has scarcely been out of the headlines in recent years. Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners have reiterated their commitment to making safeguarding a priority and improving their response. But well-publicised failings relating to late intervention and subsequent loss of life have sadly been all too common. Imran Razzaq, Director, Public Sector, MarkLogic UK, Ireland & EU, examines the issues.

OPINION: What do we think of when we think of police leadership? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs warns that traditional perceptions of how leaders look and behave may no longer be fit for purpose given the challenges facing policing.

Opinion: Former chief constable of the British Transport Police Andy Trotter OBE QPM, reflects on the terror attack that took place in London last week and the challenges it presents the service. 

OPINION: Following the attack on Westminster, the focus has rightly been on the bravery and sacrifice of the uniformed public services. But behind the scenes, the work of communications staff prevented the public's horror from turning into panic. Dan Slee of comms2point0 analyses the public sector comms response.

ANALYSIS: The fifth of a monthly series in which CoPaCC's Sandra Andrews takes a look at some of the most interesting and topical issues that Police and Crime Panels across England and Wales are dealing with. This month, Sandra looks at Leicestershire and North Wales, both of which were examining key issues in their Police and Crime Plans.

NEWS: The Metropolitan Police is likely to face as much as £400 million in fresh budget cuts this year. Martin Hoscik of Mayorwatch talks to Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey about the scale of the cuts and the "essential" changes right across the force.

OPINION: Sir Hugh Orde, former PSNI Chief Constable and President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), provides a personal perspective on the Westminster attack, and identifies key challenges that police leaders now face.

OPINION: Ethnography has one of the longest traditions in police research. Dr Mike Rowe of Liverpool University explains how ethnographic research can offer an understanding of the work and role of police officers that other types of research cannot reach.

Analysis: Recent reports reveal that of the number of FGM Protection Orders successfully made in the last two years, police forces in England and Wales accounted for less than 20 per cent. Why are the numbers so low?

ANALYSIS: Following the recent critical reports on police effectiveness from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Warwick Business School Professor Kevin Morrell analyses how the pressures of austerity have affected both what the police can do and what HMIC can measure.

Opinion: Chief Superintendent Gordon Crossan, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, explores Police Scotland's draft 10-year plan and how its successful delivery will depend on the quality of its workforce, not on the quantity.

OPINION: NPCC lead for child protection, Simon Bailey, recently hit the headlines for suggesting police needed to focus limited resources on those who had physically abused children. Dr Natalie Mann of Anglia Ruskin University warns that those who view images often go on to abuse children, and what's needed is sufficient funding to treat all sex offenders equally.

ANALYSIS: Recent revelations of abuse by football coaches highlights the vulnerability of children to exploitation. But are the police as well prepared as they could be to deal with such allegations? Dr Graham Hill, founder of Behaviour Analysis at the UK Child Exploitation Online Protection centre (CEOP), argues that police need to improve their understanding of why perpetrators abuse children, if they are to improve child protection.

OPINION: Taser has been a hot topic in recent weeks, with surveys suggesting that both police officers and the public want to see more Tasers on the streets. Steve White of the Police Federation argues that more open public engagement is needed - as well as sufficient resources - to make sure officers get the kit they need.

OPINION: Is policing losing a sense of its past? As a military historian who has worked closely with the US and UK military, and who has also had insight into UK policing, Dr Jill S. Russell is convinced of the value an ‘official history’ approach would bring to policing research, professional development, and policy.

News feature: Police officers’ understanding of fraud and cyber crime needs to match their ability to respond to and investigate ‘mainstream’ offences such as theft and burglary if the service is to fulfil its primary role of keeping the public safe, according to the City of London Police.

Feature: As the shortage of detectives reaches crisis levels, according to HMIC, some forces are turning to direct entry schemes to fill the gap, amid concerns the scheme ignores the value of time spent in a uniform and resources are already too stretched to successfully implement the programme. 

Analysis: Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and NHS England's new £15m jointly-commissioned service to support vulnerable detainees and reduce re-offending is the first of its kind and is already attracting considerable interest, but can it deliver on its promises?