Technology and equipment

ANALYSIS: By 2020, 31 billion devices will be connected to the internet worldwide bringing with it a whole host of policing challenges, but increasingly police forces are rising to those challenges. The Police Foundation’s latest report showcases some of the innovative data-driven projects that happening both here in the UK and abroad.

Opinion: There has been a 40 per cent decline in intelligence analysts since 2010. Former GMP Assistant Chief Constable and now CoPaCC Director Ian Wiggett attended the National Intelligence Conference in Cardiff where he found local intelligence provision is coming under increasing pressure.

INNOVATION: Automatic Number Plate Recognition is already used to detect various crimes, but Birmingham University researchers have found that combining ANPR data with data on serial sex offences can generate vital new leads for investigators. Forensic Psychologist Professor Jessica Woodhams shares the findings of this award-winning* research.

OPINION: The emergence of County Lines demonstrates that criminals can operate beyond their usual geographical limits. However, police ICT struggles to do the same. Richard Helson, Customer Relationship Director at Chorus Intelligence calls for police to improve their agility by integrating better on a force-to-force basis.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at a briefing written for Civitas called: Ending Short Prison Sentences - An Amnesty for Thieves and Burglars?

INTERVIEW: New technology is accelerating the police service's ability to respond to the challenge of policing in a digital age, but Matthew Cooper, Global Offering Management Director at Hitachi Vantara tells Policing Insight the service should demand more from the different IT suppliers.

OPINION: Former Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police and now an independent advisor on police and technology Paul Kennedy unpacks the challenges of digital evidence and asks if solution lies in greater automation through robotics.

Interview: CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey revealed the depth of discontent among frontline officers and staff with their ICT provision, but what also emerged was a lack of consultation with some users before they are given a new piece of 'kit'. Police Federation lead on technology Simon Kempton argues the frontline should have a greater say in IT procurement decisions for the benefit of the public, police and suppliers.

INNOVATION: When knife crime occurs, video evidence can often hold vital clues but identifying them in amongst volumes of footage is a time-consuming job. Policing Insight contributor and Senior Research Fellow at CENTRIC Andrew Staniforth reports on a project aimed at speeding up the process.

LONG READ: The deaths of six young people from drug overdoses at music festivals in Australia in the last five months has shone a light on the risk of taking drugs at these events. Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley examines the issues and considers whether pill-testing offers the solution.

OPINION: Automated facial recognition technology is now being trialled by British police forces. However, there are serious potential human rights issues associated with the use of such surveillance. Joe Purshouse of the University of East Anglia and Liz Campbell of Monash University explore the issues, and call for stronger legislation to govern the technology.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Digital Evidence Management systems are now critical for today’s investigations but how can the police be sure they are investing in the right technology? Jamie Wilson discusses the need for forces to share best practice - as well as digital information - and announces the Transformational Global Policing Summit as the perfect forum to discuss and share that knowledge

Analysis: Former GMP Assistant Chief Constable and now CoPaCC Director Ian Wiggett considers the thorny subject of improving productivity in policing and suggests that part of the answer may be ‘hidden in plain sight’

INSIGHT: The public rightly expects to submit digital evidence quickly and easily to the police, but many forces do not have the technology to facilitate this, compelling officers to physically retrieve the device that captured the evidence, but what if your force covers an area of nearly 2,700 square miles?

OPINION: Last week, police leaders and ICT suppliers gathered for the two-day Police ICT Summit 2019 in Hinckley, Leicestershire which attracted over 300 delegates. Based on the presentations, one of those delegates has sent us their 'end-of-conference' progress report on the state of Police ICT.

NEWS: Issues with the Athena system, used by nine UK police forces to share intelligence and build case files, were highlighted on the BBC this week but CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey shows the problems are not confined to Athena. Scroll down to listen to the Police Federation's Simon Kempton and Policing Insight's publisher and CoPaCC Chief Executive Bernard Rix being interviewed about the challenges facing police ICT.

INTERVIEW: As the Police ICT Summit gets underway this week, Police ICT Company CEO Ian Bell talks to Policing Insight about the challenges he's faced in his first year in the role and what the future holds for Police ICT.

Interview: On the eve of this year's Police ICT Summit Policing Insight talks to one of this year's exhibitors, Simon Hall who is the co-founder and CEO of Coeus Software, about the barriers to police ICT and how their technology reflects the Policing Vision 2025. 

Interview: Following the rogue drone chaos at Gatwick Airport last month, Policing Insight asks international drone detection expert Professor Garik Markarian of Lancaster University, and CEO of Rinicom Ltd, to explain the operational challenges of detecting illegal drone activity and how authorities can develop their capabilities to prevent further incidents.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Ian Russell, Head of UK Emergency Services at SCC, invites you to the first annual SCC Public Safety Roadshow taking place on 31st January, 12th February and 14th February. You will be given exclusive access to some of the most impactful technologies available to enhance and simplify operational policing. Put the dates in your diary, and book your place today.

OPINION: The issue of disclosure has made its way into the public domain, thanks to the collapse of high-profile trials. Mark Bedding, a former police officer now with Chorus Intelligence, argues that many police officers already have access to the technology they need to make disclosure simpler.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Every six minutes, a member of the emergency services presses the emergency button. And wherever they are, that call for help needs to get through.

ANALYSIS: The drone-related shutdown at Gatwick has exposed fault lines in the multi-agency threat and risk assessment prioritisation processes at UK airports. Andrew Staniforth, Board Member and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence & Organised Crime Research (CENTRIC), takes a look at the implications...

2018 REVIEW: As 2018 draws to a close, Policing Insight's editorial team highlight some of their favourite articles from the past year and set them as FREE access for all our readers to enjoy during the holiday period