Interview: The long-awaited introduction of a new National ANPR System (NAS), originally scheduled to be in place by April 2016, has moved a step closer this year following a successful bid to the Police Transformation Fund to establish a National ANPR Co-ordinator and Transformation Team.Keith Potter speaks to Temporary Superintendent John Dwyer of North Yorkshire Police.

ANALYSIS: DCC Louisa Rolfe oversees West Midlands Police's WMP2020 change programme that features 33 individual projects designed to make the force more agile when fighting crime and more accessible to the public. Here, she explains how the force's innovative collaboration with Accenture is progressing.

OPINION: A recent survey of Metropolitan Police officers suggested that, while few wanted to be routinely armed, as many as three quarters of officers would like to be able to carry Tasers on duty. However, Professor Peter Squires of the University of Brighton argues that doing so could make the public less rather than more safe.

ANALYSIS: The Home Affairs Select Committee has recently launched an inquiry into policing for the future, examining changing demands and new challenges. In the first of two articles for Policing Insight, crime expert and author Tom Gash suggests the Committee needs to focus their attention on cybercrime.

News insight: Collaborative working has been hailed as the way forward, but not all projects come to fruition. Syreeta Lund talks to PCC Sue Mountstevens about why her force has abandoned plans to share back office processes with two other forces.

Analysis: In 2015, the National Audit Office revealed forces were sitting on nearly £2bn in reserves sparking media outrage. Two years on and it is a very different story. Policing Insight reports on how forces are using their reserves to secure their finances and fund their futures.

NEWS: CoPaCC is to undertake a major new Thematic, "Unlocking the Power of Police ICT". Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, provides more details.

ANALYSIS: Earlier this week, the Reform Think Tank published a new report examining the public-sector workforce of the future. Here, Reform's Alexander Hitchcock and Emilie Sundorph examine the implications of this report for policing.

ANALYSIS: Ian Wiggett, CoPaCC Director and former Greater Manchester Police ACC, reflects on the current state of police ICT, and argues that much greater collaboration on ICT between forces is urgently needed.

Interview: Tina Orr-Munro talks to former chief constable of British Transport Police, Andy Trotter who as police lead for communications, was closely involved with the implementation of Airwave

Opinion: For a number of years now, a growing number of critical communications experts from UK and around the world have been watching with horror as the UK Government, led by HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and Home Office, has attempted to deliver a next-generation communications network for public safety and emergency services personnel.

Technology: We're all familiar with the police mugshot taken of the hapless offender in the police custody suite. Over the years the quality of photographs has significantly worsened. However, forces could be missing a trick because new and emerging technology means the humble and largely neglected mugshot now has a greater part to play in combating crime.

OPINION: Earlier this month, Simon Chesterman, the National Police Chief's Council lead for armed policing, responded to Prof. Maurice Punch's article on armed police and the use of lethal force, arguing that command accountability is as robust as it can be under the current law. Here Prof. Punch - with Ralph Crawshaw and Geoffrey Markham - responds in turn, underlining the importance of accountability where tactics are highly likely to cause death.

OPINION: Last week’s Police ICT Summit signalled a welcome step in a positive direction, says Clare Elford, Managing Director of Clue, a technology company providing specialist investigative software. But suggests it's now time for a greater focus on effective engagement with smaller technology providers.

NEWS: This Live Blog covers Day Two of the "Delivering Transformational Reform Together" Summit taking place in Leicestershire on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th January 2017.

NEWS: This Live Blog covers Day One of the "Delivering Transformational Reform Together" Summit taking place in Leicestershire on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th January 2017.

OPINION: The impact of knife attacks on police officers can be catastrophic - and life-threatening. So why are unarmed officers sent to deal with a lethal threat? Serving officer West Coast Response outlines the case for sending armed officers to deal with edged weapons, and asks why this is not done as a matter of course.

Interview: The number of women killed at the hands of their partners or ex-partners in the UK is truly shocking. Between 2009 and 2015, men killed nearly 1,000 women and girls. In two-thirds of those cases, the perpetrator knew his victim. Polly Neate, CEO of Women's Aid, tells Tina Orr Munro the service needs to do more to tackle the problem.

analysis: Sixteen years ago, I interviewed a custody officer who, tired of waiting for the much delayed NSPIS Case Preparation and Custody IT system, worked with a supplier to develop his own version for his force. The experience summed up Police IT then and for many years to come.

OPINION: A recent Accenture survey of 165 technology leaders within police, justice and intelligence agencies found that financial constraints, increased citizen expectations, and the need to modernise operations are driving the increasing use of digital technologies. James Slessor of Accenture unpacks the results of the survey, and outlines some of the groundbreaking directions public safety agencies are exploring.

OPINION: In many recent controversies involving the police, the voices of officers have been barely heard. In this second of two articles, Sandra Andrews of CoPaCC talks to an officer with direct experience of being spat at, and the emotional and physical ramifications of his experience.

OPINION: In many recent controversies involving the police, the voices of officers have been barely heard. Sandra Andrews of CoPaCC calls for urgent attention to be paid to the perspectives of police officers, particularly on issues - such as spit guards - that directly affect their physical and emotional welfare.

OPINION: Ian Wiggett, CoPaCC Associate and former Greater Manchester Police ACC, casts an expert eye over the Vision published last week by NPCC and APCC, which indicates agreement about the challenges ahead. But will there be sufficient consensus amongst key wider stakeholders to see these challenges addressed?

OPINION: "Not all policing and justice agencies are embracing collaboration", observes Allan Fairley, Managing Director of Accenture Police Services, Why not? Three reasons, he explains. And why is it now essential that they do so? Read on...