LONG READ: The experience of terrorist attacks in the US and in Germany shows us how important it is for police and security agencies to share systems. But what can we learn from those countries that have begun the process of harmonising police ICT? In this Long Read,Hans-Jürg Käser of the Swiss Canton of Berne explores what European countries have done towards consolidating police systems and what can be learned.
OPINION: Debriefing and reflection are integral parts of policing after high profile or major events, but what about in normal, day-to-day policing work? Jennifer Norman and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University describe their police students' experiences of reflection and its benefits.
OPINION: Compstat was revolutionary when it was introduced by Bill Bratton in late 1990s New York. But is it still fit for purpose? Prof. Jerry Ratcliffe of Temple University warns that Compstat has become 'whack-a-mole' policing and suggests that the UK's National Intelligence Model is a good starting point to guide reform.
OPINION: Why should police leaders look abroad for lessons in police oversight? Dr Brian Moss of Coventry University outlines the advantages of examining other systems and what leaders in the UK could learn.
OPINION: What difference does education really make to serving police officers? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs describes his educational journey and how it's affected the way he thinks, and how he goes about the job.
Analysis: With the media reporting sharp rises in the number of abandoned 999 calls, former Assistant Chief Constable of GMP Ian Wiggett examines the causes and argues the issue is symptomatic of much wider problems in the call handling and response system.
Insight: Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of what needs to be done? Jonathan Rees is the owner of Momoho which works with blue light services to develop high-performing teams and individuals. In the first of a series of articles, he examines ways for police leaders to tackle the pressure cooker of modern day policing.
INTERVIEW: As individual forces explore the ways in which they can use drones in everyday policing, Gary Mason talks to Russell Woolford, Assistant Operations Director with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) about the role to be played by the organisation, which currently manages helicopter and fixed‑wing aircraft fleet across England and Wales
OPINION: Last week's police pay settlement provoked some controversy - in part over the responses from the College of Policing and the NPCC. Gavin Hales of the Police Foundation warns the settlement and the responses underlines that all is not well in policing.
OPINION: Police Scotland's Chief Constable, Phil Gormley, was temporarily suspended last week in more bad news for the force. Nick McKerrell of Glasgow Caledonian University looks at the institutional malaise at the heart of Police Scotland and asks if the issues of leadership and accountability are likely to be resolved.
LONG READ: The recent Reform report, 'Bobbies on the Net,' was controversial on many points, especially its recommendation that police without digital skills should be sacked. Blue Lights Digital analyse the report from a digital perspective, and find that many of its 'revolutionary' conclusions are already under way.
Opinion: In 2014, Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis first commissioned a report into incidents police attended that involved someone with a mental illness. Three years on and Staffordshire has made considerable strides in reducing the number of those suffering mental ill health in custody, but there is still much to be done.
ANALYSIS: Crime weighting is increasingly being considered as a way of measuring the harm from crime, not just the volume of it. But numbers alone, even weighted ones, can't tell the full story. Andy Higgins of the Police Foundation explores ways of making crime statistics more rich and useful.
ANALYSIS: The problem of silos between agencies in police work is well known - but what about silos within policing? A recent @wecops debate asked how silos formed and what could be done to overcome them. Former GMP ACC Ian Wiggett and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University summarise the discussion.
ANALYSIS: Previous understandings of crowds have treated their behaviour as if it is contagious. Analysing the English riots of 2011, Dr John Drury of Sussex University argues that the spread of rioting was based more on an anti-police identity and a feeling of power after a weak police response to initial unrest.
POLICING INSIGHT EXCLUSIVE: In the third of our exclusive extracts from "Police Chiefs in the UK: Politicians, HR Managers or Cops?" Dr Mark Roycroft, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East London, asks chiefs and crime commissioners for their views on the controversial issue of regionalisation, alliances and mergers.
EXCLUSIVE SURVEY ANALYSIS: Many forces are just beginning to explore the potential and possibilities of police drone operations. The latest CoPaCC Thematic Report "Drones in Policing" surveyed drone use by UK police forces. Tina Orr-Munro analyses the results showing the extent of current capabilities and how they are being deployed
OPINION: The National Police Air Service was formed in 2012, serving all 43 forces in England and Wales. With recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of drones, @wecops recently held a discussion on the current state and future of air support, hosted by Chief Constable Simon Byrne. Serving officer Dan Reynolds summarises the debate.
