Police forces

Interview: EXCLUSIVE: The former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Lord Carlile of Berriew QC CBE explains to Policing Insight the challenges of delivering Prevent, defining Islamophobia, preserving peace in Northern Ireland, and what to do about Shamima Begum.

opinion: Special constable numbers have dropped by a third in five years. Could Employer Supported Policing (ESP) schemes help reverse the trend? Dr Iain Britton, from the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice (IPSCJ) attended the first ESP national conference hosted by Greater Manchester Police. He reflects on the event and on the potential for employer-supported models of volunteering in policing.

NEWS: National Crime Agency Director General Lynne Owens has called for an additional £650m a year to spearhead the fight against ‘chronic and corrosive’ serious and organised crime. Has the time come to ensure the NCA is sustainably funded once and for all?

Analysis: In March, 50 people were killed and a further 50 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley takes an in depth look at the impact this tragedy has had on New Zealand as it seeks to make sense of what has happened and to prevent it ever happening again.

opinion: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and following the recent publication of the Police Care UK survey on the impact of trauma on officers and staff, Mark Eastwood, senior director of SAS-fit Limited and an expert with 20-years of experience treating complex mental health issues, explains how stigma remains a barrier to those seeking treatment.

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.

OPINION: With knife crime rising, the controversy over the use and benefits of stop and search takes on greater urgency. Dr Megan O'Neill of the University of Dundee and Dr Liz Aston of Edinburgh Napier University explain how stop and search was transformed in Scotland by police and academics working together.

Advertisement feature: This years’ Canterbury Centre for Police Research annual conference is about the professionalisation agenda and the challenges to achieving its’ aims in the current climate of austerity and rising demand.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Chief constable recruitment and retention, the legacy of austerity, measuring performance and maintaining transparency are just some of the issues to be explored at this year's Police Governance Summit 2019. BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the Summit which takes place 3 - 4 July, 2019. Put the dates in your diary today - and book your place now!

OPINION: Increasing pressure on police has led to officers recording incidents, rather than actively preventing them. Serving officer Martin Gallagher warns that this trend is damaging to public confidence and that police need to position themselves as society's active guardians, not passive observers.

Analysis: Dr. Catriona Havard of The Open University and Dr. Martin Thirkettle of Sheffield Hallam University present their new research showing that small variations in the background colour of photo lineups can increase errors in identification of innocent suspects.

INSIGHT: Can a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) make a difference to how fire and rescue services are run? Each of the four PFCCs set out a local business case that said yes, they could do better and save cash along the way. Policing Insight takes a look at what progress has been made in the early stages of the transition to the new governance model for fire.

ANALYSIS: As universities and police forces move forward with the planned delivery of degree apprenticeships for new recruits, one area of focus is increasingly how those students are to be assessed. Rich Honess of Canterbury Christ Church University explains why universities love essays so much and what alternatives are possible.

Opinion: Lynne Owens, Director of the National Crime Agency (NCA), outlines the challenges around policing national threats such as serious and organised crime and why she would like the FBI to be known as the 'American NCA'.

Opinion: Chris Horne, Business Architect for Sopra Steria argues the case for 'subjective, outcome-focused social measures' to even the scorecard of measuring victim satisfaction.

ANALYSIS: At the time of the 2011 London riots, many commentators and politicians blamed the rioters rather than looking for underlying causes. However, a three-year research project suggests this was mistaken. Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews; Clifford Stott, of Keele University, and John Drury, of the University of Sussex, explain their findings.

Opinion: Whilst programmes treating post-traumatic stress are available to police officers, the Quarantine Method tackles issues before they impact an officers’ mental health. Al McGregor of Inner Armour, which developed the method, argues passionately that it’s time for a rethink - all officers must be trained in positive psychology.

Analysis: Ten years ago, London was the scene of the G20 Summit protests. This week climate change activists caused major disruption in the city. Protests are part and parcel of a liberal democracy, but how do we ensure they are ethically policed? Professor Peter Joyce and Dr Wendy Laverick examine the lessons of history and the implications for policing future protests.

Opinion: The role of Police and Crime Commissioner may still be in its relative infancy, but PCCs are already driving change, in particular, the current drugs policy which former drug policy lead for West Midlands OPCC and now Head of Policy for the National Youth Advocacy Service Ben Twomey argues is well overdue for reform.

INSIGHT: There are 'just' 55 weeks to go before the next round of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections, and it looks like many PCCs will not be recontesting their seats. So how might aspiring PCCs sensibly prepare for their election campaigns? Ian Wiggett provides a draft checklist...

Innovation: Lewis Westbury, a software developer for 15 years, a special constable for almost 10 and now founder and volunteer coordinator of Police Rewired, highlights several interesting pieces of research sourced in Crime Survey of England and Wales data, and the implications for developing practical tools in the fight against crime.

Opinion: Is official endorsement of the participation of on-duty uniformed officers in Pride events across the country blurring a very important line? Blogger, substantive Detective Constable and LLB undergraduate the Secular Detective explains why he thinks that the principles of police officer impartiality are being eroded.

OPINION: While the private sector increasingly sifts job candidates on the basis of personal attributes and transferable skills, policing is moving to a degree-based system. Former officer and now CEO of Mightify Tom Wheelhouse argues that this will reduce diversity and focus on a younger demographic while the private sector widens the net.

Announcement: Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive and Publisher of Policing Insight, provides details of OPCCs recognised for meeting their statutory requirements on openness and transparency.