Topical issues

Analysis: Across the globe homicide rates are falling, whilst in the UK they continue to rise. Professor Ian Hamilton, Professor Alex Stevens and Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director of Release, the UK centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law, discuss whether this increase is drug related or due to more complex societal factors.

Analysis: Jennifer Cobbina, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, discusses whether the recruitment of a more diverse workforce would bring an end to police brutality against black citizens in the US, or whether the answer lies in the remoulding of a more appropriate police culture.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: The Durham Community Peer Mentor Project, which recruits volunteers to mentor 'high-impact' users of the emergency services, was awarded 'highly commended' at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture. In the seventh of twelve articles focusing on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at this pioneering project.

INSIGHT: Drug and alcohol misuse often fuel crime and, as such, many Police and Crime Commissioners are working to reduce the harm it causes to individuals and communities. The latest edition of PCCs Making a Difference highlights the breadth of work taking place to address alcohol and drug dependency and break the cycle of re-offending.

OPINION: With increased police funding providing opportunities for real change, CIPFA Chief Executive Rob Whiteman CBE argues that policing should be high on the agenda of the forthcoming royal commission on criminal justice system promised by the government.

Analysis: With the use of artificial intelligence in policing on the rise, Karen Richmond, doctoral researcher at the University of Strathclyde examines whether utilising this type of technology in relation to DNA extraction is progress or a step too far.

New Series: In our continuing series aimed at supporting the new police degree entry recruits, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Carina O'Reilly explores the experimental approach to evidence based-policing, how it ranks different types of research and what this means for policing.

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises the National Digital Policing Strategy 2020-2030 which was officially launched at this year's Police ICT Summit. The Strategy sets out a new digital ambition for UK policing.

Opinion: Despite the damage caused of the UK's failure to notify EU member states of 75,000 criminal convictions, Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth argues it is critical that trust is restored and close collaboration between intelligence and law enforcement agencies continues post Brexit.

Insight: When the Australian Federal Police's take on 'Love Actually' was released in December 2018, it went viral with 1.3million views in just three days. Manager of AFP's Government and Media Executive Tony Alderman and APF Social Media Manager Laura Haddock discuss the importance of social media for community engagement and how a little humour can be a powerful tool.

ANALYSIS: In September last year, the Police Foundation launched the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales. The Police Foundation's Andy Higgins reflects on the publication last week of the first in a series of Insight Papers that will inform the Strategic Review's deliberations.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: Wiltshire Police’s role in leading an extraordinary co-ordinated response to the unprecedented 2018 Novichok attacks in Salisbury and Amesbury was recognised as a winner at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture. In the sixth of twelve articles focusing on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at an outstanding multi-agency operation.

Opinion: In an era of fake news the Director of Policing at the UEL's Centre of Professional Policing (CoPP) and former police officer Dr Sarah Cox discusses how Project Tri- Com, a new and innovative collaborative initiative, encourages inclusion and engagement across London by breaking down barriers and busting myths.

Analysis: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises the recent PEEL Spotlight publication - Diverging under pressure - which provides an overview of the 2018/19 PEEL inspections alongside emerging themes for police forces in England and Wales.

FEATURE: In our continuing series aimed at supporting the new police degree entry recruits, Policing Insight's Academic Editor Carina O'Reilly delves deeper into Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) in the context of 'what works'.

Interview: As cyber crime activity continues to rise across Europe, former Chief Inspector of the Croatian Police Jelena Levak explains to Policing Insight the cyber security challenges for policing, and the impact upon law enforcement agencies in Croatia and across the European Member States.

Opinion: Procedural justice refers to how the public's interaction with police officers shapes their view of the police and their willingness to obey the law. Bedfordshire Police Stop and Search Panel Chair Montell Neufville says that, given its potential to reduce crime, procedural justice is relevant to all areas of policing.

OPINION: Professor Herman Goldstein, the pioneer of Problem-orientated policing (POP), passed away recently. His contribution to policing spans more than five decades and its impact has been felt across the globe. Professor Gloria Laycock OBE, from the Jill Dando Institute, UCL, pays tribute to Professor Goldstein and how he changed our understanding of policing.

Opinion: Despite the Good Friday Agreement, dissident violence still poses a threat to peace in Northern Ireland. Policing Insight Contributor Andrew Staniforth reminds us of the devastating impact of previous IRA campaigns and the present-day factors that could fuel a resurgence in violence.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: A highly complex digital forensic investigation by a UK police team, which helped to crack a global cyber attack against thousands of targets including Sony’s Playstation network, was recognised as a winner at the recent inaugural World Class Policing Awards sponsored by Accenture. In the fifth of twelve articles focusing on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at Operation Polarity.

Interview: The globalisation of crime is impacting on law enforcement agencies across the world. Dr Borislav Mavrov from the European Institute in Bulgaria shares with Policing Insight the challenges faced by Bulgarian agencies, what measures are being taken and how UK policing can help.

Opinion: The search for additional savings in policing is becoming increasingly difficult, but the newly-formed BlueLight Commercial is set to transform policing's commercial capability increasing cashable savings and income generation. Chair of the National Commercial Board and Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent Matthew Scott outlines the benefits BlueLight Commercial will deliver.

ANNOUNCEMENT: As official media partner of the World Class Policing Awards 2020, Policing Insight is delighted to announce the nominations for this year's awards are now OPEN!

OPINION: The UK's first ever National Policing Digital Strategy was launched at the recent Police ICT Summit. Director of the National Enabling Programmes and Chair of the National Police Technology Council Wayne Parkes explores the reasons for the strategy, its ambitions, and how it can be delivered.