Technology and equipment

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: How the police have responded to enforcing the lockdown in the UK has received considerable attention. Ben Bradford, Zoe Hobson, Arabella Kyprianides and Julia Yesberg from the Jill Dando Institute, UCL plus Jonathan Jackson and Krisztián Pósch from the Methodology department of LSE look back and discuss the public's compliance with these tactics over the duration of the lockdown.

Analysis: A survey carried out by Working the Doors, which represents UK door staff, on the relationship between door staff and the police has revealed a lack of communication and, in some cases, a misunderstanding of each others' roles. Working the Doors Content Manager Steve Johnson explores the survey's results in detail.

EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS: Policing Insight's International Advisory Board (IAB) was established in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown in the United Kingdom. This article, the first by the IAB, offers a perspective on changes that policing leaders and key senior stakeholders might make to take advantage of some of the new working practices or insights emerging from the COVID-19 response.

ANALYSIS: The killing of George Floyd, caught on camera by a member of the public, has reignited the debate over whether body-worn cameras increase police accountability and transparency. Associate Professor in Law Robert Diab welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support for the wider use of body-worn cameras, and sets out how and why that use should be enshrined in law.

Analysis: In the latest edition of the Thames Valley Police Journal, Inspector James Ravenall examines how wellbeing is impacted by a range of factors and offers ways to develop positive practice.

Analysis: Police forces must adapt, collaborate and innovate to get ahead of criminals, according to INTERPOL. Policing Insight Contributor Andrew Staniforth examines how INTERPOL is helping law enforcement to embrace innovation to keep communities safe.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Internationally, police forces are having to enforce and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Dr Zoha Waseem and Julian Laufs from the Department of Security and Crime Science at the Jill Dando Institute UCL examine the impact policing the pandemic is having on police forces and their staff.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: In the latest of the series of articles from the UCL Jill Dando Institute, Dr Lisa Tompson and Dr Jyoti Belur examine the effect of stalking on victims during the lockdown and how agencies are working to address this.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: The COVID-19 pandemic has been exploited by some criminals selling fake medical and health products. Dr. Manja Nikolovska and Professor Shane Johnson, Director at the Dawes Centre for future crime at UCL, examine how criminals have preyed on people's fear and vulnerability and how this type of crime can be prevented.

Opinion: Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia Thalia Anthony says Australia is appalled by racist police violence in the United States, but does not confront discrimination within its own criminal justice system against First Nations people.

Opinion: The lockdown has led forces to re-evaluate how they use technology to support their operations with some innovative results. Director at technology consultancy Tisski Ben Austen explores how having an integrated technology platform at the heart of policing will enable forces to continue to innovate.

Insight: The UK introduced new quarantine laws for those entering the UK earlier this month. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth explores the nature of these new restrictions and the ability of Border Force and the police to enforce them.

Analysis: The UK is going through an unprecedented time. Barely out of austerity, it has had to contend with a pandemic alongside the impact of events happening elsewhere in the world. Professor Peter Joyce and Dr Wendy Laverick look back over the last few months and examine some of the triggers that could lead to widespread disorder.

Analysis: In the wake of the death of George Floyd in the U.S, tensions over racial discrimination have spread across the world, including Australia. Emma Thomas, Associate Professor at Flinders University, examines the policing of protests and why some turn violent.

Opinion: Technology has played a huge role in policing the lockdown, especially in enabling officers and staff to successfully work remotely. Simon Hall, CEO of Coeus Software, explores what this means now Covid-19 restrictions are being slowly eased.

Insight: Rogue drone incursions are a serious threat to football stadiums. With football currently either suspended or played behind close doors, Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth says now is the time to consider a counter-drone strategy and explore the available anti-drone technology.

Analysis: Already a serious problem for society, domestic abuse in all its forms has been exacerbated by the lockdown. Policing commentator Mark Brown says now is the time to implement a nationwide strategy similar CONTEST, the Government's counter-terror strategy, to tackle this 'epidemic within the pandemic'.

INNOVATION: In the third of a series of articles, DriveTech's Charlie Norman explores a new white paper on proposed changes to new cars sold in the UK from 2024. He argues current rules on a driver’s readiness to be on the road are in need of a comprehensive review. More complex vehicles on more crowded roads, with reduced levels of roads policing, may explain why improved safety equipment hasn’t had the desired impact. 

Interview: The COVID-19 crisis has impacted upon police forces across the world. Vice Dean of the Police College of the Republic of Croatia Assistant Professor Ruža Karlović tells Policing Insight how the active engagement in community policing research and innovation with European police partners has supported the organisation and delivery of COVID-19 emergency measures to local communities.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: An innovative public consultation process by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) was awarded Highly Commended in the World Class Policing Awards, sponsored by Accenture. In our final article on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at the online simulator which allowed community members the chance to control police budgets, allocate resources and gain a better understanding of the funding challenges.

Analysis: Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth examines how Police Scotland is tackling online child sexual exploitation during the Covid-19 lockdown alongside the wider challenges of combating the tens of thousands of websites hosting child abuse images.

INNOVATION: As drone technology develops and their use increases at pace, Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth says INTERPOL's Framework for Responding to a Drone Incident will help close the gap in law enforcement's knowledge of how to deal with these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

Opinion: The lockdown and social distancing means trainers and course providers have had to find different ways to deliver their courses. Despite the challenges of moving a CPD-accredited settlement course for leavers to a virtual setting, Mightify's Tom Wheelhouse found many participants preferred this new style of delivery.

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises a report by Europol on how Covid-19 will shape serious and organised crime landscape in the EU beyond the pandemic.