PCSO

Analysis: A decade of falling police officer numbers in England and Wales has been a continuous focus of concern. In a new series of articles Ian Wiggett analyses where the cuts have been felt the deepest and the implications for the workforce mix. This first article looks at how police officer numbers and the total size of the workforce have changed for each force since 2010 and what the picture is likely to look like in 2023.

INTERVIEW: Norfolk Constabulary axed the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) role two years ago as part of a wider initiative to improve service delivery and reduce costs by 2020. Despite increased funding, the drive to recruit more officers and the NPCC and College of Policing's commitment to the role, Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey tells Policing Insight why PCs, not PCSOs, are the way forward.  

Opinion: In an era of fake news the Director of Policing at the UEL's Centre of Professional Policing (CoPP) and former police officer Dr Sarah Cox discusses how Project Tri- Com, a new and innovative collaborative initiative, encourages inclusion and engagement across London by breaking down barriers and busting myths.

NEW REPORT: CoPaCC publishes in-depth individual analyses of the police ICT provision in 10 police forces providing the largest response to the CoPaCC National Police ICT Survey in 2018. The 'Police ICT: Forces in Focus' reports are the latest in the CoPaCC Police ICT: User Perspectives series based on the Survey results. These reports are critical reading for anyone with an interest in improving police ICT provision.

Analysis: Following research commissioned by the National Police Chiefs Council into diversity in policing, Research Director for Crime and Justice at the National Centre for Social Research Dr Jeffrey DeMarco examines the issues impacting diversity and how they can be overcome.

analysis: With Prime Minister Theresa May's departure imminent, the Tory leadership candidates are now fighting over who's tougher on crime, which, according to one poll, has become the second greatest public concern. Ian Wiggett looks at the candidates' promises, the reality of funding allocation, and potential obstacles.

NEWS: The Queen's Birthday Honours lists for 2019 recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. Many congratulations to those in and associated with policing who have been recognised this year...

INTERVIEW: HMICFRS has raised concerns that neighbourhood policing has been eroded and forces don't know how many neighbourhood police officers they have, but Surrey Police's new Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, who holds the neighbourhood policing portfolio, says that is about to change.

NEW REPORT: The results of this year's Police ICT User survey have now been published, with police officers and staff expressing deep dissatisfaction with ICT provision in their forces. They tell a story of badly specified, out-of-date equipment, slow and unreliable systems with poor integration combined with a lack of suitable training and support.

OPINION: Neighbourhood Policing Teams are being depleted, but for Martin Surl, Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, it is a vital policing function which is why Gloucestershire is taking a different approach.

OPINION: 'Community policing' is now ubiquitous as a phrase, but increasingly, 'reassurance' is being subcontracted. Chief Supt. Owen West argues that police need to empower communities through old-fashioned dialogue, not high-tech solutions.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Bedrock of policing’ is regularly used as a descriptor for neighbourhood or community policing but its current parlous state would suggest that perhaps it isn’t really as cherished as some would have us believe. Humberside PCC Keith Hunter makes the case for neighbourhood policing to regain its position in policing priorities.

Analysis: There is still a lack of understanding and support around the transgender community. While newspapers feature flippant headlines about gender neutral toilets, those who are transgender have to deal with the sometimes devastating consequences of others' misunderstanding. But some police forces are at the vanguard of a more inclusive approach. Syreeta Lund writes.

OPINION: Officers taking a break have been in the news lately, with both positive and negative public responses. Serving officer Chris Excell summarises a recent @WeCops discussion on the vital need for officers to be able to take a break - publicly or privately - and the underlying issues of police welfare, stress and wellbeing in general.

ANALYSIS: Since the end of the Neighbourhood Policing Programme (NPP) in 2009, the work of neighbourhood teams across the country has significantly diverged. The Police Foundation are undertaking a major project to track these developments, and are looking for police officer and staff insights into what's been happening neighbourhood policing in your area.

ANALYSIS: The latest HMIC report, The State of Policing in England and Wales, was overshadowed by a row about the traumatic experiences suffered by uniformed officers. However, the report is an important one, addressing key issues around demand, resourcing and mental health. Carina O'Reilly, editor of Policing Insight, assesses the report.

ANALYSIS: Last week the Police Foundation published its latest paper, A Natural Experiment in Neighbourhood Policing, from its Police Effectiveness in a Changing World project. Andy Higgins of the Foundation outlines the ramifications for neighbourhood policing, as the Foundation launches its new research project to explore its future.

ANALYSIS: Headline figures from the Police Federation's recent survey of officer welfare show shocking levels of demand, overwhelming workload, and stress-related illness. Here, Mary Elliot-Davies of the Federation outlines the key findings and what comes next in the Fed's campaign for change.

ANALYSIS: Research shows that 'hate crime' - being abused or attacked because of personal identity - can have a powerful emotional effect. But for police officers, it's often regarded as part of the job. Dr Irene Zempi outlines police experiences of abuse, and calls for a debate about the proper response to the targeted victimisation of officers.

OPINION: In many recent controversies involving the police, the voices of officers have been barely heard. Sandra Andrews of CoPaCC calls for urgent attention to be paid to the perspectives of police officers, particularly on issues - such as spit guards - that directly affect their physical and emotional welfare.

OPINION: Serving police officer Ed Cudmore is completing his Master's degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. In the third of our comment pieces, he examines the response to the College of Policing's announcement about educational qualifications and gives a personal testament to the value of education in policing.

OPINION: Last week the new Police Education Qualifications Framework was unveiled, to a mixed reaction that was at times extremely hostile. Serving officer Gareth Stubbs unpicks the announcement, and punctures some of the myths and misunderstandings around the new plans.

OPINION: Under the current funding model, Lincolnshire is projected to face a £6 million shortfall within the next three years - more than the entire pay bill for all of the force's PCSOs. Chief Constable Neil Rhodes outlines the urgent need for an interim solution.

ANALYSIS: Interest in heritage crime, any act which ‘harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations,’ has been slowly gathering pace. Researching this marginalised area, Bethan Poyser found that understandings and perceptions of heritage crime vary greatly between place managers and the police, leading to extreme frustration for both parties.