ANALYSIS: Despite the widely acknowledged benefits of working in cross-force collaborations, there remain many obstacles to effective collaborative endeavours between forces. Dr Xavier L”Hoiry of Sheffield University explores the obstacles and proposes ways of overcoming them.
ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. Following a survey of police officers from 44 police forces, the report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 1 of the survey, and identifies some potential "quick wins" for forces and suppliers.
BOOK REVIEW: A new book, 'What Matters in Policing,' by Maurice Punch, Auke van Dijk and Frank Hoogewoning, argues that the complexity of modern policing needs a new, comprehensive way of defining what is really important in policing, and how police leadership needs to adapt. Policing Insight's editor Carina O'Reilly reviews the book.
LONG READ: Has the pendulum swung too far towards leadership in policing at the expense of management? Serving officer Jim Gale argues that it has, and that this presents real long-term reputational and strategic risks to the service.
ANALYSIS: Body-worn video is one of the most significant emerging technologies in policing, but robust analysis of its effects has been limited. Elizabeth Linos, Joanne Reinhard, Simon Ruda and Michael Sanders of the Behavioural Insights Team report the results of a large-scale randomised control trial in one UK police force.
30th December 2017
NEWS: The New Year Honours lists for 2018 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...
OPINION: The BBC are advertising roles that are only open to candidates from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority background, but is this approach to recruitment a step too far for policing? Tom Webb-Skinner, Resourcing Team Leader for British Transport Police, explores the issues.
OPINION: Last month, serving officer Nathan Constable warned the relationship between the College and serving officers was strained, and set out an urgent plea for the College to reflect and rebuild. Here, Rachel Tuffin, acting CEO of the College, responds.
OPINION: Sussex police recently claimed that a fixture between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace represented a return to the 'dark days of football', with the stadium beset by ticketless fans armed with knuckledusters - claims that were later retracted. Chief Supt. Owen West argues that this incident does risk a return to the dark days, in terms of police legitimacy and fan relations, and calls for urgent change.
OPINION: Last week, @WeCops hosted a Twitter chat on how austerity had affected policing. Serving officer Gareth Stubbs discusses the responses and what it tells us about the state of policing, and the need for police organisations to take trauma and wellbeing seriously.
OPINION: Arrests of football fans have fallen by 14% according to recent figures - but the numbers don't tell the whole story. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fans still face confrontational policing and aggressive stewarding at matches. Chief Supt. Owen West calls for clubs, fans and police forces to come together to change the match day dynamic.
OPINION: As they commence a new national research project into Special Constabulary leadership, Dr Iain Britton and Dr Carol Borland-Jones of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at the University of Northampton, discuss why they feel the leadership of Special Constabularies is such an important issue, and raise some key debates.
Analysis: Creativity and innovation may not be two words that automatically come to mind when thinking about policing. Yet, this year’s annual College of Policing conference - Everyday Innovation - revealed that there is no shortage of either within the police service.
Interview: This weekend (9-10 December), in the wake of the College of Policing’s Everyday Innovation conference and in the run up to CoPaCC’s thematic report into police ICT, Hack the Police 2 will bring developers and frontline officers together to take innovative ideas and put them into action in a sequel to the UK’s first and original policing hackathon. We interview one of the organisers, Edwin Burns of the Forensic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths (University of London), ahead of the event.
OPINION: The 24th annual Lord Ferrers Awards, which recognise the contributions of Police Support Volunteers, Special Constables and Volunteer Police Cadets, took place in London on Tuesday 28th November. Dr Iain Britton, a member of the panel of judges for the awards this year, reflects on the inspirational individuals and teams who were awarded for their voluntary contributions.
ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Office of National Statistics report on Domestic Abuse in England and Wales, which draws on a range of data and examines the prevalence of domestic abuse as well as the CJS response. For the first time, the report includes information on victim services.
INSIGHT: Many forces want the benefits of BWV, yet procurement is not a simple process. Each department has specific needs that must be met in terms of quality, cost, storage and future-proofing – one size does not fit all. In this article from the CoPaCC thematic report 'Body-worn Video in Policing', Graham Jarvis looks at the technology considerations.
ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Scottish Police Federation's Personal Protective Equipment Survey 2017.
ANALYSIS: There is copious research about the phenomenon of domestic abuse, but little that is written from a leadership perspective. Dr Linda Reid examines the leadership of domestic abuse in the context of the police and their partners in a large city in the UK.
ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at Big Brother Watch's report on Police Access to Digital Evidence which examines the effectiveness of current legislation on investigating digital data and levels of police training.
Analysis: Dr Sarah Charman spent four years researching new police recruits. Her findings, published in Police Socialisation, Identity and Culture: Becoming Blue, examines the influences on and changing attitudes of new police recruits at the most formative stage in their career and the implications this has for policing.
Insight: It is often difficult to find an Appropriate Adult, as required under PACE. Sunderland University, in partnership with Northumbria Police and Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, have developed an innovative solution. Dr Donna Peacock and Dr Faye Cosgrove explain how the scheme works.
