Technology and equipment

NEW REPORT: Body-worn video has seen huge growth in UK policing with millions of pounds spent on equipment and back office systems. CoPaCC's latest thematic looks at the development of police body-worn video and provides a guide to the key opportunities and challenges in terms of the technology, implementation and use

ANALYSIS: A recent study of the police’s use of data has found that UK police forces had access to a vast amount of digital data, but lacked the technological capability to use it effectively. Alexander Babuta of the Royal United Services Institute explores the opportunities presented by big data policing technologies, and the organisational barriers that must be overcome to make effective use of them.

NEWS: The results of the first annual police ICT user survey will be published shortly. Undertaken by CoPaCC and supported by the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, the survey provides a unique, independent insight into what police officers really think of their police ICT systems. Policing Insight talks to senior stakeholders involved in the survey about its potential impact and what needs to change. We also announce the winner of the survey prize draw for an iPad.

Opinion: Allan Fairley, MD, Accenture Police Services explores the issues surrounding the lack of joined up data in the criminal justice system. 

LONG READ: The experience of terrorist attacks in the US and in Germany shows us how important it is for police and security agencies to share systems. But what can we learn from those countries that have begun the process of harmonising police ICT? In this Long Read,Hans-Jürg Käser of the Swiss Canton of Berne explores what European countries have done towards consolidating police systems and what can be learned.

INSIGHT: Civil Aviation Authority certification is a necessity for commercial drone use. Gary Mason looks into the steps towards gaining these qualifications and what the test actually involves

ANALYSIS: Following the RUSI's publication of a paper on police use of data, Former GMP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett explores its potential applications and limitations. 

OPINION: Amid growing demand on policing, how can forces manage the flood of offenders arrested for viewing child abuse material? Nick Alston, Chair of Anglia Ruskin University's Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER), outlines a major conference in November that seeks to find new approaches to investigations and prevention.

ANALYSIS: The latest of a monthly series in which CoPaCC's Sandra Andrews takes a look at some of the most interesting and topical issues that Police and Crime Panels across England and Wales are dealing with. This month, Sandra looks at the use of artificial intelligence, and Durham Constabulary's development of the Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART).

OPINION: Blockchain and other 'distributed ledger' technologies are best known as the basis of virtual currency Bitcoin, but could they be the solution to data-sharing issues in policing and criminal justice? Rick Muir of the Police Foundation explores the implications.

INSIGHT: Mark Cooper, a former HMIC programme director and OPCC Chief Executive, offers an indispensable insight and guide on how to ensure your force inspection goes as smoothly as possible.

INTERVIEW: The video-enabled justice project, awarded £11m in Police Transformation Funding, will allow people to give evidence via a network of high-tech video links in police stations and other buildings across London and the South East. Tina Orr-Munro speaks to Project lead Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and explores the benefits of VEJ and the advantages of having a PCC at the helm of such an ambitious initiative.

Opinion: Allan Fairley, UK Police & Justice Managing Director, Accenture looks at the pivotal role of data in technology-enabled policing, and examines how public cloud computing can provide a better way forward.

INTERVIEW: As individual forces explore the ways in which they can use drones in everyday policing, Gary Mason talks to Russell Woolford, Assistant Operations Director with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) about the role to be played by the organisation, which currently manages helicopter and fixed‑wing aircraft fleet across England and Wales

Opinion: Cleveland Police has become the first force to buy in Sopra Steria's Predikt, a web-based police resource and demand modelling  tool. Kathryn Howe, head of public sector marketing for Sopra Steria, explains how PrediKt takes the guesswork out of predicting demand on the service.

LONG READ: The recent Reform report, 'Bobbies on the Net,' was controversial on many points, especially its recommendation that police without digital skills should be sacked. Blue Lights Digital analyse the report from a digital perspective, and find that many of its 'revolutionary' conclusions are already under way.

INTERVIEW: Gary Mason talks with National Police Chiefs' Council lead Steve Barry about current and future plans for drone use, the legislative challenges to be overcome, and the problems surrounding governance

EXCLUSIVE SURVEY ANALYSIS: Many forces are just beginning to explore the potential and possibilities of police drone operations. The latest CoPaCC Thematic Report "Drones in Policing" surveyed drone use by UK police forces. Tina Orr-Munro analyses the results showing the extent of current capabilities and how they are being deployed

Opinion: Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl explains the impact of his Commissioner's Fund on the most vulnerable in the community.  

OPINION: The National Police Air Service was formed in 2012, serving all 43 forces in England and Wales. With recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of drones, @wecops recently held a discussion on the current state and future of air support, hosted by Chief Constable Simon Byrne. Serving officer Dan Reynolds summarises the debate.

Interview: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recently signed a seven-year £8 million contract with MASS (part of Cohort PLC) to provide a digital forensics (DF) managed service aiming to maximise integration, collaboration and efficiency. Tina Orr-Munro speaks to Chris Johnson, MASS Head of Law Enforcement Business Development.

NEW REPORT: For the last few years, UK police forces have been trialling Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. CoPaCC's latest thematic analyses the number of drones and their usage and includes contributions from key stakeholders on their potential to enhance policing.

Opinion: The challenge for any PCC is to balance the need for reform and reorganisation of services with the expectations of the public they serve. Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, came into office with a clear focus on modernising police processes to meet changing and more complex crimes, maintaining a strong presence in communities and ensuring value for money for the residents of Staffordshire.

ANALYSIS: Last week, the policy think tank Reform published their report on the digital future of policing, to considerable controversy. Here, serving officer Nathan Constable and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University argue the report is lacks evidence, academic rigour, coherence, and a basic understanding of what policing is, what people want from it, or how it is held to account.