Technology and equipment

OPINION: The coronavirus pandemic has called for an extraordinary response from law enforcement; but Dr Wendy Laverick and Professor Peter Joyce believe the increasing politicisation of policing during the pandemic, the sidelining of PCCs and introduction of tougher powers could threaten police legitimacy once the crisis is over.

OPINION: Lie detector tests such as polygraphs, which use an individual’s anxiety levels to indicate the veracity of their statements, have been criticised as ‘theoretically weak’ and unreliable; but new methods which rely on the asymmetry in responses from liars and truth-tellers could be the way forward, as University of Portsmouth Senior Teaching Fellow Cody Porter explains.

ANALYSIS: Former senior police officer Richard James of community engagement specialists Intensive Engagement shares the company’s methodology on working with communities to reduce crime, and how the approach can be applied to a range of other social issues.

INNOVATION: Recent serious public disorder in Brussels, and the much-covered riots in Washington DC, highlighted the dangers facing police when they are overwhelmed by unexpected public violence; a new virtual reality platform providing immersive simulation of real-world public places could offer police and security agencies the best possible preparation for such events, reports Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth.

INNOVATION: A £55m police-led cyber security system designed to detect attacks and protect businesses and organisations is now being rolled out nationally after a successful pilot in north-east England; Policing Insight's Sarah Gibbons reports on Police CyberAlarm

OPINION: Advances in technology have seen drones become more available, more capable and simpler to use, which has means the opportunity for criminal use has also increased; Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth looks at the threats posed by drones, and the measures that can be taken to counter them.

OPINION: Many sections of the media have been quick to blame ‘covidiots’ for the spread of COVID-19, and equally quick to back a police crackdown; but former chief superintendent Owen West, a Research Fellow at Keele University, says the evidence suggests the media narrative is false, and that the 'get tough' approach is part of a wider politicisation of policing that could do long-term damage to the police-public relationship.

OPINION: Police and governments are investing heavily in public safety technology, but as result frontline responders are often faced with vast amounts of data when trying to assess ongoing incidents; Kalyn Sims of computer-aided dispatch specialists Hexagon believes assisted artificial intelligence could be the key to rapid, real-time analysis of data.

OPINION: Coverage of protesters storming the Capitol Building in Washington DC was watched around the world, with many questioning the ease with which rioters gained entry to the heart of federal government; Tom Nolan, Associate Professor of Sociology at Emmanuel College, Boston, believes the events of the day will be viewed by many experts as ‘an international embarrassment for American law enforcement’.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Policing in the UK is regarded as a benchmark for the rest of the world. So dealing effectively with evolving criminality and cybercrime, along with increasing complex digital evidence, is vital if the UK is to remain a beacon of excellence.

OPINION: In 2020 the UK took a number of steps to strengthen its resilience and defence against cyber attack, at a time when millions more people began working remotely; but as Policing Insight's Andy Staniforth reports, despite the efforts of law enforcement and security agencies, the cyber threat landscape still looks pretty bleak.

FEATURE: With public confidence in policing high on the agenda of many forces, Dubai Police has developed new initiatives around citizen focus, community engagement and victim support to help deliver greater customer satisfaction; Dubai Police consultant Jorge Román and Captain Dr Abdullah Al Shaikh, Head of the force’s Victim Support Programme, explain the approach.

OPINION: COVID-19 has undoubtedly placed significant pressures on UK policing, but the unique environment, coupled with advances in technology and continuing recruitment efforts, have also created potential benefits; Boyd Mulvey, founder and CEO of Chorus Intelligence Ltd, explores the threats and opportunities presented by the pandemic.

ANALYSIS: There's a common belief that cybercriminals are typically operating in organised crime groups, and are well rewarded for their efforts; but new research by Dr Roberto Musotto of Edith Cowan University and Professor David Wall of the University of Leeds suggests that in reality they are more like business workers, usually achieving relatively low returns.

OPINION: While much has rightly been made of the impact of the UK leaving the EU in relation to information sharing and legislative powers, far less has been discussed about how Brexit could affect innovation collaborations between UK and European policing partners; and as Policing Insight's Andy Staniforth suggests, maintaining such partnerships will need to be a policing priority.

OPINION: Steve Ainsworth, Director of Operational Safety at Northgate Public Services, argues that taking a less linear approach to the chain of custody could help forces use forensic evidence in a more proactive way.

INNOVATION: The National Enabling Programmes (NEP) have been working with UK police forces to provide new technology over the past four years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has provided fresh impetus to the transformation, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: When drones piloted by rogue operators targeted Gatwick Airport in 2018, the costs of the resulting disruption, delays, closures and investigations are estimated to have exceeded £50 million; the incident also acted as a wake-up call for the aviation and security industries, as Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth reports.

INTERVIEW: While many police organisations and leaders struggle to use social media effectively, Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley regularly engages in Twitter exchanges with the wider public, while also vlogging to his own staff; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to Mr Adderley about his online profile, his efforts to ensure openness, and why he believes good leaders need to ‘keep their hand in’.

ANALYSIS: As a tumultuous 2020 draws to a close, Katherine Van Gurp, Chief Executive Officer of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency, explores how some of the main changes and shifting trends of recent times have collided with the pressures of the present, and what this may mean for policing and wider society moving forwards.

INNOVATION: Radios are an essential lifeline for frontline police officers – which is why technological advances in the development of devices must adopt an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, one that takes account of users’ instinctive responses, digital expectations and the potential for integration, as Katja Millard of Motorola Solutions explains.

OPINION: The digital data trail each of us leaves online is commonly used by commercial organisations to target marketing and sales efforts; but as Dr Roberto Musotto, a Research Fellow at Western Australia’s Edith Cowan University explains, ‘social network analysis’ could be a crucial tool in enabling judges and jurors to assess the value of evidence in complex cases.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Policing is under pressure to be become trusted, ethical and digital savvy whilst criminal investigations become more complex with increasing volumes of digital evidence. Andrew Martin of Cellebrite, presents a new report "Envisioning a New Framework for Investigations" and highlights the digital transformation at Leicestershire Police.

FEATURE: Speaking at the recent London Policing College’s Police in the time of Pandemic conference, National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Martin Hewitt outlined the sometimes ‘tense and difficult’ relationship between police and the UK Government during the COVID-19 crisis, and praised the efforts of officers and staff; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.