Regulatory/inspection agencies

OPINION: Is promotion through the ranks perceived as a game? In August, @wecops ran a Twitter debate hosted by Inspector Gareth Stubbs (@DedicatedPeeler) on 'The Police Promotion System'. Neil James of @bselectedpolice summarises the debate and discusses some of the key issues raised.

OPINION: ‘Vulnerable’ is one of the most frequently used words in policing today. Ch Supt Paul Griffiths, Vice President of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, considers policing's approach to vulnerable individuals.

OPINION: With increasing numbers of serving police officers undertaking academic study - perhaps for the first time - the College of Policing has set up a new Academic Support Network through POLKA. Dr Ian Hesketh outlines why 'pracademics' might need a source of mutual support, and what the new network can offer.

OPINION: Academics and police are working increasingly closely - but what are the practicalities of such partnerships? How do they evolve over time? Layla Skinns explores some of the issues ahead of next week's international conference at the University of Sheffield, Working with the Police on Policing.

OPINION: What is the proper relationship between police and academia? Could a focus on 'what works' endanger the development of reflective practice? And could the growth in programmes being offered by universities in police-related subjects risk the commodification of policing? Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University examines the evolving relationship between policing and the academy.

ANALYSIS: How is policing responding to the challenges of digital crime? Giles Herdale of the National Police Chiefs' Council lays out the three priority areas that will fundamentally change policing and ready it for the challenges of policing by consent in a digital age.

OPINION: CoPaCC Director, John Tizard, reflects on CoPaCC's recent "Brexit: Implications for policing and security" event supported by leading law firm Fieldfisher. Many policing stakeholders contributed to the seminar discussion, including PCCs, Deputy PCCs, OPCC staff, senior and former police officers, national policing agency and government departmental officials.

ANALYSIS: The HMIC recently released their report on public confidence in policing - and at first glance it seems good news. However, Dr Kevin Morrell of Warwick University and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argue that there are a number of issues with the methodology and analysis of the research that means we cannot be entirely confident in reported confidence in the police.

OPINION: The use of controversial spit hoods was suspended last week in London after intervention from new Mayor Sadiq Khan. Nick Alston of Anglia Ruskin University's Policing Institute for the Eastern Region argues that not enough is known of the real risks and benefits of spit hoods, and the College of Policing needs to step up with rigorous evidence of the pros and cons.

OPINION: Laboratory reports of hepatitis C have almost doubled in three years in London, while some 59% of London's injecting drug users (classically, crack and heroin) have hepatitis C. Rory Geoghegan of the Centre for Public Safety argues that forces need to explain to the public what a spit guard is, how it works and why it is needed - and that spit guards are a no-brainer for effective policing.

OPINION: The 2016 Police Now Summer Academy has just graduated 108 new recruit police officers ready for independent patrol. Chris Heathcote, Director and Gold Commander of the Academy, talks about why he believes passionately in the promise of Police Now and what it can offer to police forces across the country.

OPINION: Are senior officers offering a 'tin ear' to complaints of low police morale? Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, considers how best to make positive changes in a context of austerity.

OPINION: The Curtis Review on the use of targets in policing was published in December 2015, but little actual change appears to have taken place. Simon Guilfoyle revisits the debate and calls once more for the fundamental transformation of performance management in the police service.

ANALYSIS: New media guidelines proposed by the College of Policing could impose strict new rules on contacts between police officers and journalists. Carina O'Reilly asks if they will protect the police, or smother vital relationships built on mutual understanding.

OPINION: Are Triage schemes doing their job in mental health emergencies? Serving police officer 'Nathan Constable' warns police forces could be heading down a dead end track with no way to turn around.

ANALYSIS: Ahead of the imminent, potentially massive, changes to Fire and Rescue Service organisation and structure, former Editor of Policing Today Philip Mason asks if the government has learnt from mistakes made during its parallel reform of the Police Service

ANALYSIS: Former HMI Robin Field-Smith examines why there have been problems in attracting candidates for Chief Constable positions, and offers some pointers for newly elected PCCs

ANALYSIS: Sandra Andrews examines the College of Policing's recent consultation on proposals to introduce academic recognition for both existing workforce and new joiners

ANALYSIS: The IPCC’s recent report on police use of force has generated much praise and some grumbles. Stephen Roberts of Vigilant Research identifies some important lessons for assessing how police forces capture and analyse information

OPINION: Jim Mallen, Chair of Bedfordshire Police Federation, examines the IPCC's recent "Use of Force" report and considers its transition to the Office for Police Conduct

ANALYSIS: Dr Mark Roycroft, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East London, provides the second of two articles containing insights from his forthcoming book on "The role of PCCs"

ANALYSIS: Dr Mark Roycroft, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of East London, provides the first of two articles containing insights from his forthcoming book on "The role of PCCs"

OPINION: In the second of a College of Policing series, DCC Andy Rhodes, the College's Chair for Organisational Development and International, looks at change management in policing

ANALYSIS: Following publication of HMIC's inspection of police force effectiveness, the Police Foundation's Rick Muir argues that crime has changed but the police workforce has not adapted accordingly.