Technology and equipment

INNOVATION: With the first round of security projects funded by the S-TRIG programme now presented publicly, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the advantages of the early stage funding competition, and the success of Project Artifact, a screening and detection system that received a £30,000 grant through the process.

FEATURE: The various COVID-19 lockdowns have prompted criminal activity to move increasingly online, with illicit financial transactions following suit; ahead of next week’s We Fight Fraud online conference, Dr Nicola Harding outlines the findings of a new white paper which reveal how low-level criminal commerce is increasingly becoming part of the cashless society.

ANALYSIS: Many people – including police officers – base their ability to detect liars on faulty logic, false promises and unreliable cues; Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Paine, and University of Portsmouth Teaching Fellow Cody Porter, expose some of the myths around lie detection, and highlight the latest evidence-based approaches to identifying the truth.

ANALYSIS: More than a year after Sir Craig Mackey submitted his review of UK serious organised crime, last month the Government published an ‘Executive Summary’ only, adding that plans to tackle SOC would now come under the Integrated Security Review; Policing Insight's Ian Wiggett reports on the challenges, concerns and lack of detail in the fight against organised crime.

FEATURE: In his recently published second review of UK anti-terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, has called for new police powers to tackle digital encryption; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth explains why such powers are desperately needed to keep up with advances in technology.

Insight: A new multi-partner approach to sharing data has been adopted in Thames Valley to help tackle the scourge of violence; Governed by a principle of no 'misuse' of data, whilst ensuring there is no 'missed use' of data, the project aims to direct early intervention and prevention strategies, explains its head, DCI Lewis Prescott-Mayling.

INNOVATION: The ‘ad-hoc development’ of technology and communications has compromised the law enforcement efforts of South Australia Police; but force CIO Hamish Cameron believes issuing mobile phones to all officers and staff will deliver a ‘step change in the technology’ for SAPOL, as Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons reports.  

OPINION: The findings of the recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report have been called into question by a number of campaign and community groups; but police ethics advisor Montell Neufville believes that among the recommendations are some important messages for prospective PCCs and mayors on public scrutiny and police-community relations.

ANALYSIS: With countries across Europe engaged in their own efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the latest Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment from Europol suggests COVID-19 could be a key driver in future organised crime, alongside geopolitical changes and the online criminal economy, reports Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons.

OPINION: While COVID-19 and other immediate challenges have seen many sectors including policing focus on the present, the challenges of the future still need to be considered and addressed; Police Superintendents’ Association President Paul Griffiths looks at some of the key issues highlighted by futures thinking, and the steps the service should be taking to address them.

FEATURE: Super-recognisers – those people with exceptional abilities in recognising faces – have already been successfully deployed by police forces in the UK and elsewhere; but new research by Dr Josh Davis and Ryan Jenkins of the University of Greenwich, and David James Robertson of the University of Strathclyde, suggest those with excellent voice-recognition skills could play a similar role for law enforcement.

INTERVIEW: Ahead of this week’s launch of the UK’s new Police Digital Service, Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons spoke to CEO Ian Bell about the transition from the Police ICT Company,the pace of technological change in policing, and the aims and ambitions of the new organisation.

Feature: As the Inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack continues, there is work behind the scenes to update the Joint Doctrine, the interoperability framework for UK emergency service responders; Carl Daniels of JESIP spoke to Policing Insight’s Catherine Levin about the consultation and how it has never been more important to work together.

ANALYSIS: The Victims’ Commissioner recently called for enhanced support measures under a new Victims Law. One of her more ambitious proposals is the introduction of free and independent lawyers to support rape victims on issues of privacy. Ellen Daly and Dr Olivia Smith of Loughborough University evaluate the scheme and show that legal representation can benefit victims and investigating officers without detriment to fair trial.

FEATURE: Just two months after the NPCC launched a programme establishing a network of not-for-profit Cyber Resilience Centres, the UK went into lockdown: Joanna Godard of delivery partners BRIM explains how the project has continued to progress despite COVID-19, and highlights some of the benefits it is already delivering.

INNOVATION: A recent murder investigation by Dubai Police highlighted the significant advances in brainwave science technology as a method of deception detection; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at how P300 could revolutionise lie detector tests, and why a continued focus on polygraph testing may leave the UK criminal justice system behind the times.

OPINION: Over the past year the issue of data ethics has come increasingly under the spotlight, with issues ranging from exam algorithms to test and trace the subject of everyday conversations; Giles Herdale, former co-chair of the Independent Digital Ethics Panel for Policing, looks at key developments in the police use of data and technology, and the implications of those conversations for UK law enforcement.

ANALYSIS: What are the benefits of mobile working? When Police Scotland rolled out devices to 11,000 officers, they called on an independent academic team to assess the results - which were overwhelmingly positive. Chief Inspector Martin Gallagher, Deputy Business Lead, outlines the project, alongside Professor Lesley Diack of Robert Gordon University and Dr. William Graham of Abertay University.

INNOVATION: Sniffer dogs are already used by police forces to detect everything from drugs and guns to cash and dead bodies; now police in Derbyshire are pioneering the work of a new breed of forensic dogs that can sniff out tiny traces of semen to support investigations into sexual offences, reports Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

FEATURE: The impact of COVID-19 has included changing crime volumes and trends, with forces having to adapt rapidly and implement new ways of working; Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett spoke to Cheshire Constabulary’s DCS Gareth Lee and DCI Adam Ross about some of the challenges of tackling and investigating crime during the pandemic, and how the experience could drive lasting change.

Opinion: In the second of two articles exploring the current spotlight on policing protests, public order specialist and former chief superintendent Owen West assesses the latest HMICFRS report on the issue, and questions the lack of focus on resources, liaison and leadership, as well as the political timing of the publication.

INNOVATION: Intelligent automation is delivering significant savings, greater efficiency and improved job satisfaction for many forces across England and Wales; Christy Hopkins and Andy Willmer of consultancy Deloitte highlight some of the key benefits already realised by this automated addition to the police workforce.

Opinion: Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Andy Marsh, a keen geographer with passion for innovation and collaboration, explores how geospatial data provided by the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) helps protect our communities, and innovate and enable better decision making.

Interview: West Midlands Police data ethics committee could see its role expand into a national portfolio building on its success of scrutinising police use of artificial intelligence-led operations and acting as a vehicle to build public trust in new policing techniques. Policing Insight's Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons talked to one of the committee's creators about its work and the teeth it has despite being only an advisory body.