Police authorities

FREE ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from Lancashire Constabulary and West Mercia Police as subscribers to Policing Insight. They now have FREE access to Policing Insight with the start of new organisation wide subscriptions for the two forces. Policing Insight is also available FREE to officers and staff in many UK forces and in other police and criminal justice organisations with an organisation wide subscription - read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

FREE ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from New Zealand Police - the first police force outside the UK to subscribe to Policing Insight. They now have FREE access to Policing Insight with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. Policing Insight is also available FREE to officers and staff in many UK forces and in other police and criminal justice organisations with an organisation wide subscription - read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

OPINION: A lack of integration and interoperability between ICT systems coupled with outdated hardware continue to hamper Scottish police officers but, in his foreword to CoPaCC's Police ICT: User Perspectives 2018 report, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Ch Supt Ivor Marshall says the recently agreed £298 million for ICT investment is an opportunity to create a system fit for purpose.

ANALYSIS: There are growing financial and operational pressures on policing. Senior figures are calling for a new vision, but as the president of the PSA said earlier this month, there is a void at the centre - and no prospect of a Royal Commission to provide answers. The service can, however, start preparing options now. The themes that come up time and again are structure, accountability frameworks, and workforce. What is the service’s own future vision for these?

FREE ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from Police Scotland, who now have FREE access to Policing Insight with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. Policing Insight is now available FREE to officers and staff in many UK forces and in other police and criminal justice organisations - read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

OPINION: Given the pressures police forces are under, Greater Manchester Police responded to the bombing of the Manchester Arena last May remarkably well. A year on, 100 officers and staff are still employed on the case. Former GMP ACC Ian Wiggett takes a closer look at the force and the fire service's response and the potential lessons learnt.

ANALYSIS: The proposed absorption of British Transport Police into Police Scotland appears to be steaming ahead regardless of unresolved problems, deep opposition from BTP officers, and ever-increasing reputational risks. Independent researcher Dr Kath Murray and Dr Colin Atkinson of the University of the West of Scotland explain the ongoing issues.

NEWS: PLACES ARE FILLING FAST for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. In this latest update, we announce new flexible booking options and confirm session timings. Put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now...

NEWS: BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which now has an EXCEPTIONAL list of speakers. The Summit will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. Put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now...

NEWS: BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which has an OUTSTANDING list of speakers. The Summit will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. Put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now...

NEWS: BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. Organised with the support and guidance of leading police governance professionals, academics and stakeholders, this event explores key police governance challenges of the day. Interested in police governance? Then put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now!

ANALYSIS: The BTP Leaving Home research project investigates the impact of the proposed integration of the BTP into Police Scotland on BTP officers and staff in Scotland, exploring issues of organisational identity, community, and attachment. Independent researcher Dr Kath Murray and Dr Colin Atkinson of the University of the West of Scotland explain their findings

NEWS: BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the first annual "Police Governance" summit, which will take place on Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th June 2018. Organised with the support and guidance of leading police governance professionals, academics and stakeholders, this event explores key police governance challenges of the day. Interested in police governance? Then put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now!

ANALYSIS: The Metropolitan Police Service is moving from a Borough-based policing model to Basic Command Units (BCU) which will mean fewer, but larger policing areas. The force believes this will improve its service to its communities, but is bigger necessarily better? Former Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett examines the issues.

OPINION: Scottish police regulations - unlike those in England and Wales - allow investigations into complaints to be halted if an officer resigns. Moi Ali argues that this harms the officers, the complainants, and faith in the system, and explains why she's campaigning for a change.

ANALYSIS: The resignation of Police Scotland's Chief Constable Phil Gormley is the latest twist in a story of perpetual crisis since the force's establishment. Nick McKerrell of Glasgow Caledonian University traces the roots of the saga and warns that further problems are likely.

ANALYSIS: Has Police Now lived up to its promise? The London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) last month published its evaluation of the Met's first Police Now cohort. Gavin Hales of The Police Foundation examines the evidence.

OPINION: As the New Year begins, yet another scandal has emerged involving potential Scottish government interference with the operation of Police Scotland. Nick McKerrell of Glasgow Caledonian University warns that the crisis in Scottish policing is a structural one - and that without an examination of those structural causes, these crises cannot be resolved.

LONG READ: The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) was originally envisioned as an apolitical arms-length body providing oversight and accountability of the single police service. Dr Ali Malik explores the SPA's short history, and sets out recommendations aimed at strengthening the body’s legitimacy and increasing public confidence.

OPINION: Is the Scottish Police Authority too close to the Scottish government - and if so, what does this mean for holding Scottish policing to account? Independent researcher Kath Murray and former president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie examine the state of the SPA.

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: 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.

ANALYSIS: Should the proposed BTP merger with Police Scotland be put on hold? Calls for a delay have increased since a draft HMICS report described the decision to merge the forces as 'entirely political'. Kath Murray looks at the evidence.

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.