Technology and equipment

OPINION: With the numbers of police officers declining, Management Consultant Martin Wilson, who is the former Head of Innovation for Kent and Essex police, says the answer could lie in increasing online services if the police service can get the 'user experience' right.

ANALYSIS: The Police ICT Company has announced its latest collaboration with Chorus Intelligence which they believe has the potential to save thousands of hours across UK policing. Northamptonshire Police has already successfully trialled the software and is now looking to extend its use. Tina Orr-Munro reports.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 10 (of eleven).

OPINION: Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in policing to predict crime and direct scarce police resources. However, Professor Michael Rowe of Northumbria University warns that the moral and ethical ramifications of using such technology are potentially serious, and need to be kept in view.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Emerging technology is key to solving the challenges of keeping the public safe in the face of chronic issues in public safety such as budget cuts; incident reaction time; incident decision making; information management and more. Jackson Szabo announces Mission Critical Technologies the must attend event in public safety and security, part of London Tech Week

INTERVIEW: HMICFRS recently highlighted Gwent Police for its innovative approach to police training when it became the first force to use virtual reality technology for routine officer training. Mick Keyte, Director at Detect Deter Defend Limited and Tim Luft Director of Virtual Reality Simulation Systems worked with Gwent Police to implement the technology. Mick Keyte explains its benefits.

INSIGHT: CCTV plays a vital role in police investigations reducing costs, time and effort as well as improving prosecution outcomes. Richard Perkins explains the challenges of optimising the future use of CCTV, exploiting opportunities in interoperability, biometrics and artificial intelligence.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 9 (of eleven).

NEW REPORT: The latest CoPaCC thematic report, 'PCCs and Statutory Transparency,' is published today. CoPaCC has undertaken a review of PCCs and transparency in every year since 2012, when Police and Crime Commissioners were first elected. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive and Policing Insight's Publisher, introduces the latest review and outlines what additional related work is planned for next year.

OPINION: Millions of images of faces have now been accumulated and digitised by police, but questions remain over how to search them, and how long to keep them. Prof. Martin Evison of Northumbria University outlines the problems.

OPINION: How important is the police uniform to officers' authority - and morale? Serving officer Martin Gallagher explores his own attitudes, and what the evidence shows, about the role of the constable's hat.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 8 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: CoPaCC's Police ICT User Survey had its first public airing this month when CEO Bernard Rix presented its findings to a conference of police ICT suppliers. But what can the service and suppliers learn from the results of the survey?   

INSIGHT: In an article from the CoPaCC "Bodyworn Video in Policing" thematic report published in September 2017, Gary Mason looks at how police firearms units require a more nuanced approach to body-worn video than their unarmed colleagues. From camera positioning to reviewing sensitive footage, questions about their ideal and fair use persist.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 7 (of eleven).

Opinion: Digital evidence permeates every investigation, but the collapse of several high profile trials recently demonstrates what happens when it is mishandled. Our contributor, a digital investigation expert, who has worked for many years in industry and law enforcement including close involvement in the development of standards across the sector, says the problem goes to the heart of how evidence is gathered and forces must take action now. The author has asked to remain anonymous.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 6 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 5 (of eleven).

OPINION: Artificial intelligence could be a huge boon to policing and public safety - but it must be used responsibly and win public trust. James Slessor, Managing Director of Accenture Public Safety, reflects on the possibilities.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 4 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 3 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: There was a sense at this year’s Police ICT Summit 2018 was that there was much to celebrate about the progress police ICT has made in the last few years, but there is still much to do. The ambition and the commitment are there, but are the police service and the public on board?

ANALYSIS: CoPaCC's thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' revealed users had similar perceptions of their ICT, but there were wide variations in terms of levels of satisfaction. Ian Wiggett takes a closer look at the findings of the survey to discover why. 

LIVEBLOG: Policing Insight's Live Blog of the Police ICT Summit 2018, organised by the Police ICT Company and the National Police Technology Council.