Topical issues

OPINION: It's time for a proactive approach to frontline health, welfare, skills and career support, believes Mightify CEO Tom Wheelhouse – and investing in action rather than awareness and discussion will bring huge rewards.

ANALYSIS: Mobile CCTV surveillance has recently appeared in public spaces in Melbourne, as part of a joint initiative between councils, Victoria Police and the Commonwealth Government to target those breaking lockdown rules; Professor Rick Sarre asks whether such moves are legal, effective and acceptable.

ANALYSIS: Nic Pole, one of the authors of the College of Policing's recent Future Operating Environment 2040 report, explores the concept of 'futures thinking' as well as some of the key challenges and opportunities for UK policing over the next 20 years – and how the service will need to prepare for them.

ANALYSIS: With an apparent increasing disconnect between the American public and the police who serve them, is there any hope for a recovery in police legitimacy? Colin Rogers, Professor of Policing and Security at the University of South Wales discusses the requirements for police legitimacy and examines the experience in New Zealand.

ANALYSIS: Trial deployments of facial recognition technology by South Wales Police have been ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal. The Consultation Institute Associate, Anna Collins, explores the role that public opinion could play in smoothing the way for future use of the technology.

FEATURE: The shocking events of 9/11 in the USA brought the role of Special Branch and ports police – a crucial part of the UK counter-terror apparatus – into much sharper focus, and fed into an inspection process which would lead to major changes in their role and status, as Policing Insight contributor Andy Staniforth explains.

OPINION: Technological innovation is crucial in enabling digital forensics teams to tackle the growth in devices and data; but the success of innovators relies on police engagement, explains Ian Stevenson, Chair of the Online Safety Technology Industry Association (OSTIA) and CEO of Cyan Forensics.

OPINION: Superintendent Simon Nelson, President of the Disabled Police Association, looks at the impact language and categorisation can have on individuals in diverse 'minority' groups, including those with a disability.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: NPCC Workforce Representation Lead Phil Cain warns that the service must stop 'reacting defensively' to concerns of racism in policing, and become more educated and aware of the issues around diversity and inclusion.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: College of Policing CEO Mike Cunningham, and Christine Elliott, Interim Chair of the Board of Directors, outline the latest developments on leadership training, digital advances, and diversity and inclusion.

OPINION: 'You may be terrified of social media. Unfortunately, you have every reason to be. It's a dangerous place where things get taken out of context and rumours fly': Yael Bar-tur, New York Police Department's former Director of Social Media, explores the risks and opportunities for policing's digital communications.

FEATURE: In our continuing series aimed at supporting the new police degree entry recruits, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Dr Carina O'Reilly outlines a fourth case study of evidence-based policing in practice – this time looking at the promise of technology transforming policing.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: A proposed police covenant – focusing on physical protection, health and wellbeing, and support – will be extended to include serving and retired officers, staff and volunteers, as well as their families, confirms Home Secretary Priti Patel.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: New legislation around the use of technology in policing would enable forces to have a clear understanding of the parameters, and make much more fair and effective use of systems such as facial recognition, says Met Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House QPM.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: Tackling fatigue among police officers and staff will be a major focus of work for the National Police Wellbeing Service in 2021, as NPCC Wellbeing Lead Andy Rhodes warned that exhaustion among members of the police service has become ‘institutionalised’.

OPINION: The COVID-19 pandemic and and Black Lives Matter protests have seen policing face new and unique challenges over recent months; but as crowd control specialist Owen West points out, attempting to ban legitimate demonstrations and reclassifying protest groups as serious crime organisations or domestic extremists is both dangerous and futile.

UCL COVID-19 SERIES: Professor Graham Farrell from the University of Leeds, and Dr. Dan Birks from the University of Leeds and The Alan Turing Institute, analyse crime trends both during and post-lockdown and examine the Government's response to these shifting trends.

ANALYSIS: The coronavirus pandemic, the economic recession it has created, and the ongoing, uncertain impact of Brexit are three key challenges currently facing the UK and Europe; they also represent circumstances that – according to a recent Europol report – could enable organised crime groups to flourish, as Policing Insight's Andrew Staniforth explains.

OPINION: Knife crime hit a record high in England and Wales before the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to calls for tougher sentencing; but Sean Creaney, Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University, and Jo Deakin, Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, argue that engaging young people in their rehabilitation process is a more effective way of reducing reoffending.

OPINION: Nathan Bird, UK Policing lead for social media company Hootsuite, believes the changes that policing will need to make as a result of the European Electronic Communications Code – known as ‘Next Generation 999’ – should be seen as a real opportunity to revitalise police engagement and public contact in a digital society.

OPINION: In the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day, former police leader turned development coach Gareth Davies highlights the problematic policing culture that contributes to deaths among serving and former officers, and how leadership, learning and emotional development could deliver positive change.

ANALYSIS: In the wake of the recent sentencing of a far-right terrorist in New Zealand for the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks, Andrew Staniforth looks at efforts in the UK to ensure that places of worship, and those who use them, are protected from hate crimes and the threat of terrorism.

ANALYSIS: AUSTRALIA: A recent survey shows a growing number of Australians support the legalisation of cannabis, and almost three in five back the idea of pill testing; Jarryd Bartle, Sessional Lecturer at RMIT University, and Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University, explore the survey results, and the potential lessons for policy makers.

INSIGHT: The armed forces community – those who are serving or have served, and their families – have a strong link with policing, both as members of forces, and sometimes as individuals struggling with life outside the military. Inspector Jim Jones, GMP's Tactical Lead for the Armed Forces Covenant, explains the importance of the Covenant, and how his force has committed to doing more for that community.