ANALYSIS: As political parties in the UK begin their election campaigning in earnest, a Conservative proposal for a new national service scheme – which would include options for young people to undertake their service in ‘civic duties’ including policing – has prompted much debate; Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett looks at how the scheme might work, what happens elsewhere, and the possible challenges and benefits.
ANALYSIS: Despite widespread recognition of the importance of local policing in England and Wales, there is very little consistency or consensus around its delivery; a new research project by the Police Foundation will examine variations in local policing approaches, the rationale behind them, their relative strengths and weaknesses, and how different designs can meet future policing challenges, as Research Director Andy Higgins explains.
23rd May 2024
ANALYSIS: Despite significant decreases in crime over the past 30 years, most people in England and Wales believe crime is rising; Associate Professor Toby Davies and Professor Graham Farrell of the University of Leeds argue that while there are various reasons for the perception gap – including political rhetoric and media coverage – governments should be taking decisions on crimes based on evidence, not public perception.
OPINION: In an opinion piece that sets out to challenge UK policing’s “intellectual and doctrinal confusion”, recently re-elected Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson argues that most of the public “feel abandoned to the intimidatory threats of vocal and shrill minorities”, amid concerns over “risk-averse” policing leadership and a perception that forces are failing to police without fear or favour.
ANALYSIS: It’s now six months since the largest pro-Palestinian March in London, and the reaction to the policing of the event that led to the departure of Home Secretary Suella Braverman; as protests around the Middle East conflict continue, highlighted recently with the handling of an antisemitism campaigner’s attempt to walk through a march, Policing Insight’s Graham Wettone looks again at the claims of two-tier policing, the difficulties officers face, and the role politicians play in increasing tension.
ANALYSIS: With all 37 police and crime commissioners and police, fire and crime commissioners across England and Wales due to take office tomorrow (Thursday, 2 May), Policing Insight rounds up the campaign commitments, pledges and victory comments from the latest cohort of commissioners – including some new names, several familiar faces, and some long-serving office holders.
ANALYSIS: Last week’s PCC elections in England and Wales were a combination of predictable wins, surprise victories and tight contests, against the backdrop of a low turnout and minimal media coverage; Policing Insight’s Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly takes a closer look at the policy and political implications of the results, and whether this year’s outcomes could affect campaigning techniques and voting intentions in future PCC elections.
ANALYSIS: With the major media focus and political campaigning around the local council and mayoral elections last week, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections which were running in tandem slipped past largely unnoticed outside policing circles; Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett looks at the significant ‘red tide’ that replaced 2021’s ‘blue wave’, as well as the challenges facing the new office holders, and the concerns over low voter turnout.
FEATURE: In the latest in the new series of The Police Student focusing on Criminology in Policing, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly looks at the New Penology approach, which highlights the role of measurement and the rise in metrics in responses to crime, but also underlines some of the dangers of focusing solely on risk and harm when allocating resources.
OPINION: Martin Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive of Content Guru, reflects on the forthcoming local and national elections, which will have a profound effect on policing, arguing that for policing to transform, it needs to look forward as well as back – and that investment in people will not deliver the change that is required unless it is matched by investment in technology.
INTERVIEW: In the second of two interviews with long-serving police and crime commissioners ahead of next week’s elections, Hertfordshire Conservative PCC David Lloyd spoke to Policing Insight’s James Sweetland about putting victims “at the centre of everything we do”, how officers are now “far closer to society than they were”, and made the case for new PCCs to “be joyful and do the little things”.
INTERVIEW: Voters in England and Wales go to the polls next week in the police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections; in the first of two interviews with long-serving PCCs now stepping down, Labour PCC for South Wales Alun Michael spoke to Policing Insight’s James Sweetland about the risk of “hubris” among chief constables, why the PCC-chief relationship “shouldn’t be too comfortable”, and his reflections on 12 years as a PCC and 50 years as an elected politician.
23rd April 2024
ANALYSIS: Members of the public in England and Wales will have the opportunity to cast their vote for either the police and crime commissioner or mayor who will have responsibility for policing in their region; after the 'blue wave' of 2021, Policing Insight looks at the candidates, the political landscape, and the potential outcomes of this year's elections.
ANALYSIS: Next week will see police and crime commissioner, mayoral and local council elections in the UK, with a general election due in the next few months; former police officer Mark Brown, now a policing commentator and associate lecturer at the University of Southampton, looks at the neighbourhood policing proposals being put forward by the two main political parties, and how they could affect frontline delivery.
FEATURE: Speaking at a recent Staffordshire University conference, NPCC Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens explored policing’s “opportunity for a reset”, why forces must avoid “defensiveness” when confronted about cultural problems, and what an “anti-racist police service” really means, as Policing Insight’s James Sweetland reports.
OPINION: The influx of county lines drug gangs from English cities into Scotland has led to increased violence and the exploitation of local youngsters; but SNP Policing spokesman Allan Dorans argues that a desire among the mainstream media not to raise racial tension or anti-English sentiment has led to a lack of coverage of the issues which has had consequences for policing.
FEATURE: In the latest in the new series of The Police Student focusing on Criminology in Policing, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the left realism crime perspective, including the 'square of crime', the need for greater understanding of the complexity of crime, and the ‘Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ approach pioneered by New Labour.
FEATURE: A recent report by the UK’s cross-party Home Affairs Committee has warned that policing the continuing Israel-Gaza protest is pulling resources away from areas such as neighbourhood and response policing and is damaging officer wellbeing, with MPs urging the Government to take steps to address the issues of both police resourcing and hate crime, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.
INTERVIEW: Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye spoke to Policing Insight’s James Sweetland about the abuse he’s suffered during his first term – including a shocking threat to his life that made him question whether to continue as a PCC at all – and his desire to help the force reach its full potential.
