Police forces

INTERVIEW: International development organisations around the world are focused on achieving sustainable development goals, but their efforts are at risk of being undermined by financial crime; Oliver May, Leader for International Development Practice at Deloitte Australia, spoke to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons about the improving response of NGOs to financial crime and the need for law enforcement to help countries and organisations tackle that threat.

OPINION: This week saw calls for a ‘leadership style more open to critique’ to address policing’s ‘toxic’ culture; but Policy Exchange Head of Crime & Justice David Spencer, a former detective chief inspector, argues that while a new leadership doctrine is needed, solutions to the current crisis must be rooted in policing’s history and the unique role officers are asked to do.

FEATURE: Policing cultures and issues over poor and unethical behaviour have been a concern for police forces around the world, with many pointing to the misconduct of individual ‘bad apples’; but research by organisational ethicist Dr Eva Tsahuridu of Victoria Police Registration and Services Board highlights the influence of organisational factors on poor behaviour and the need to address them, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

ANALYSIS: While significant steps have been taken to improve Police Scotland’s response to domestic abuse, a new thematic review of the issue by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland has highlighted outdated and problematic attitudes to the crime, substantial pressure on resources, and significant delays in securing digital evidence that are hampering that response, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: The announcement last week by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that she will be stepping down within the next two weeks caught many of the public – and members of her own party – by surprise; but as Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth explains, while Ms Ardern may no longer be holding high office, she will leave a lasting legacy globally in the fight against terrorism and online extremism.

Australia Day Honours: We are pleased to publish and recognise the police recipients of the 2023 Australia Day Honours. The team at Policing Insight offer our congratulations and thank all the recipients for their service and contribution to their communities.

OPINION: A youth ‘crime wave’ in Alice Springs – partly blamed on last year’s lifting of ‘Intervention’ laws – has led to more officers on the streets and more youngsters locked up; but Professor Thalia Anthony and Researcher Vanessa Napaltjari Davis argue that this ‘knee-jerk’ law and order response ignores longer term Royal Commission calls for a more humane response to young people and for greater support for First Nations families and organisations.

FEATURE: The successful trial of a new Tactical Response Model by New Zealand Police – launched following the tragic murder of Constable Matthew Hunt – provides enhanced training for officers and better frontline access to specialist capability, while ensuring that officers remain approachable and connected to their communities, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: The ongoing debate about degree requirements for UK policing recruits took a new turn recently, when Home Secretary Suella Braverman told forces to keep open a route into the profession that didn’t involve a degree; former officer turned policing lecturer Tom Andrews, and branch Federation Secretary Jon Carter-Lang – regular sparring partners in the degree debate – sat down together to consider a potential ‘best of both worlds’ alternative entry pathway.

FEATURE: More than 2,000 officers from Peel Regional Police will receive specialised, survivor-led human trafficking training to help them identify and support those who might be being groomed or are already being exploited, in a training project that’s the first of its kind in Canada, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Digital evidence is growing by leaps and bounds, especially with the roll out of new body worn camera systems. But this evidence is not always easily accessible. To address the challenges of managing digital evidence, Lancashire Constabulary adopted a new approach. The force leverages NICE Investigate to make digital evidence from multiple connected systems, including body worn video, readily accessible to officers through a single login and to speed up Lancashire's ability to share video with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

ANALYSIS: A new joint report from Europol and the American Drug Enforcement Administration explores the involvement of Mexican cartels in the European drug trade; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen looks at the roles taken on by cartel members, the particular drug markets they are working in, and what this may mean for future drug trends across Europe.

INTERVIEW: The US Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has long been a pioneer of promoting community engagement and partnerships for law enforcement across America; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to COPS’ Nazmia Comrie about investing in long-term initiatives, how community policing can improve violence reduction, and why digging into the data is crucial.

OPINION: The case this week of serial rapist PC David Carrick has once again highlighted gaps in the vetting and misconduct processes that could have identified the threat posed by the Met officer much earlier; British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi believes there are a number of steps that can be taken quickly and easily to close those gaps, and ensure patterns of complaints lead to a swift identification of any underlying issues.

OPINION: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s recently unveiled plan for reform of the force is underpinned throughout by the introduction of “precise community crime-fighting”; Police Foundation Research Director Andy Higgins takes a closer look at what the term will mean in practice, how similar ideas have fared elsewhere, and why unifying neighbourhood and evidenced-based policing approaches could deliver significant benefits.

INTERVIEW: After a 30-year career which saw her rise to the top of the Aurora Illinois Police Department, former chief Kristen Ziman retired in 2021 and found herself facing a difficult transition; 18 months on, with her first book published, and putting her specialist interests in counter-terrorism and gun violence to good use, she’s not ready to give up making a positive difference just yet, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Front-line police deserve to be protected by equipment that not only protects them, but the public too. TASER technology is one of the most studied, safe and effective means of quickly stopping a threat. In this article, we’ll dig into the research around TASER energy devices and address misconceptions and myths.

FEATURE: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last week unveiled the outlines of a turnaround plan for the force based on “precise community crime fighting”, a new performance framework and new professional values; but just days after the ambitious plan was announced, the force was facing fresh controversy with the conviction of serial rapist PC David Carrick highlighting concerns over vetting, conduct and complaints, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

ANALYSIS: Public trust in policing is essential in maintaining police legitimacy and effectiveness, and people’s perceptions of police are a valuable indicator of levels of community trust and confidence; Dr Rasha Kassem and Dr Ian Kennedy of the Open University explore some of the factors influencing negative and positive perceptions of policing, many of which were highlighted during a recent University of Oxford public engagement event.

ANALYSIS: A key element of many of the 2020 policing protests was the call to defund police and reinvest more heavily in community spending and solutions, but two years on, policing budgets have continued to increase across Canada; Concordia University Associate Professor Ted Rutland looks at how and why spending has increased, and what progress has been made on investing in non-police responses.

OPINION: The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) has been at the forefront of identifying new and ongoing challenges for law enforcement, as well as the tools, techniques and guidance required to enable officers to meet them; ANZPAA CEO Dr Tracey Green outlines some of the key issues policing will be facing over 2023, and how the Agency is working with practitioners, stakeholders and others to deliver solutions.

OPINION: The last 12 months have been tumultuous for policing in England and Wales, so what challenges will law enforcement face in 2023? Police Foundation Director Rick Muir explores the key issues for policing in the year ahead, including recruitment and retention, reviews and reform, and the potential impact of politics and new legislation.

OPINION: As threats against Canadian politicians appear to be at an all-time high, rising workforce attrition rates within the RCMP are in danger of leaving the force with too few resources to protect ministers, diplomats and government officials; Security Risk Management doctorate student Sean Spence believes the shortage is a risk to Canada’s national security, but turning to private contractors could offer a solution.

FEATURE: A collaborative project between Victoria Police and the state’s Youth Support and Advocacy Service has led to a reduction in offending, improved outcomes and services for young people, and stronger alliances between the two professions, as Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter reports.