Topical issues

OPINION: In June 2024, Paul Anderson retired from his post as Chief Constable of Humberside Police after 34 years in the service, amid allegations of misconduct that an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation declared this month required no further action; in this article he shares his experiences of being on the “other side of the fence” in an IOPC investigation, the length of time such inquiries take, the vulnerable position of chief officers, and the media leaks and manipulation that can make such processes even more damaging.

INTERVIEW: Having recently taken up his new role as CEO of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA), Carl McLennan spoke to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons about the importance of sharing and collaboration at regional, national and international levels, the threats and opportunities presented by new technology, and the need to ensure that the frontline are fully engaged with new developments and innovative thinking.

FEATURE: A new report from the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme which analyses the latest figures around child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in the UK highlights a 6% rise in recorded offences – although under-reporting of CSAE is still regarded as a major concern – with the growth in online platforms, the wider use of AI, and the effects of the cost-of-living crisis among a range of factors contributing to the increase, reports Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

OPINION: In the latest in a regular series of articles from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and APCC Joint Finance Lead, explores the funding challenges facing forces and PCCs in England and Wales following last week’s announcement of the 2026/27 core grant for policing, and highlights extra funding needed to meet government ambitions around issues such as violence against women and girls, and knife crime.

INTERVIEW: Police forces across England and Wales need central support to embed “a more consistent, nationally-led approach” to investigator wellbeing rather than the current ad-hoc activities and initiatives at a local level, as Sarah-Jayne Bray, Programme Manager for the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Recruitment, Retention and Wellbeing of Investigators portfolio, explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

OPINION: Former New Zealand Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming recently pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation and bestiality material, and an Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation shows complaints of sexual misconduct were dismissed or minimised; Dr Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Waikato, argues the case highlights that misogynistic attitudes, loyalty to hierarchy and weak whistleblower protections protect those in power, and that a public inquiry into the police is essential.

FEATURE: The horrific terrorist attack on Bondi Beach this week – the worst in Australia’s history – has once again highlighted both the continuing critical threat of terrorism, and the importance of efforts to identify individuals at risk of radicalisation and violent extremism; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the role of the UK’s Prevent Programme in doing just that.

FEATURE: South Yorkshire Police’s Exercise Oak Apple is working with schools and other organisations to improve lockdown practice in response to on-premises knife crime incidents; Sergeant Simon Kirkham spoke to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons about how the programme came about, the work that has been done so far, and the potential to roll out the scheme more widely to forces across England and Wales.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence (AI) AI is advancing rapidly, but human systems remain slow and often focused on immediate pressures; Odette Meli, former Co-ordinator of the Australian Federal Police’s Strategic Insights Centre, warns that without “leadership uplift and value-aligned governance” AI will amplify organisational weaknesses, and points to how policing in the UK, Australia and New Zealand have structured AI governance as an example of what can be done.

INTERVIEW: New research reveals that wellbeing support for secondary investigators and analysts (SIAs) such as crime and intelligence analysts and digital forensic officers is often below the levels offered to front-line colleagues, despite their often lengthy immersion in highly distressing material; report author Dr Fazeelat Duran of the University of Birmingham is urging police leaders to recognise the risks and exposure, and has also suggested simple strategies to help SIAs, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

FEATURE: In the wake of Ontario’s Building Bridges @ Blue conference, Policing Insight’s Matthew Wood explores the development of evidence-based policing across Canada, an approach that is gaining momentum but which faces significant challenges around governance, the disconnect between funding and outcomes, and the need to share outcomes.

INNOVATION: As forces adopt new approaches to digital evidence, integrating privacy with intelligence tools is proving key to efficiency, prediction, and community trust; Simon Randall, CEO of automatic redaction specialists Pimloc, explores the technology opportunities available to police forces to ensure that privacy and productivity advance hand in hand.

INNOVATION: A College of Policing evaluation of the use of enhanced video response to a range of calls coming in from the public to Avon and Somerset Police suggests that the approach could lead to significant improvements in response times, investigative standards, and overall case duration, as well as greater victim satisfaction and reduced stress and workloads for many officers taking part, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: With police forces facing crime challenges at national and international levels, the 43-force structure across England and Wales can present a barrier to speedy and effective interventions; NTT DATA UK&I Executive Head of Public Safety and Justice Ian Rimington, Senior Director Brian Cliff, and Director Keith Ward, argue that closer digital collaboration between neighbouring forces would preserve local independence while giving officers the speed, clarity and unity of purpose to face crime that moves without borders.

INNOVATION: An award-winning pilot project launched by the Norwegian Police Service utilises artificial intelligence (AI), assisted reality and automated processes to help crime scene investigators enhance the quality of investigations during the ‘golden hour’, improve outcomes, and reduce costs; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to Dr Bente Skattør and Superintendent Kjeld Helland-Hansen about the AI4Interviews project.

ANALYSIS: In the second in a series of articles on male officer mental health in policing, accredited psychological therapist Dr Rachel Rogers explores why male police officers often delay so long before asking for help, the consequential “cuts” that can result from seeking support, the culture that further deepens those wounds, and why labels such as “sick, lame and lazy” become more than just words.

FEATURE: Crime scene investigators (CSIs) are exposed to traumatic scenes more frequently than most other policing roles, yet are often overlooked when it comes to debriefing and wellbeing intervention, according to Anglia Ruskin University’s Rebecca Jones and Varvara Belova, whose research – shared as part of last month’s Investigator Wellbeing Week of Action – highlights the urgent need for improved support around CSI mental health, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: Amid media headlines that Australia is in a ‘youth crime crisis’, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced an “adult time for violent crime” approach that could see children as young as 14 tried in adult courts and facing long sentences; Macquarie University Associate Professor in Criminology Dr Alex Simpson argues that the data doesn’t support such an approach, which is politicising youth violence.

FEATURE: Latest research from Cardiff University and the Stamp Out Spiking charity highlights the scale of spiking across the UK, the various methods used, and most worryingly the fact that around three-quarters of victims don’t report the crime to police; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the insights already emerging from this research, as well as other seasonal initiatives to keep the public safe during the festive season.

ANALYSIS: Fraud is now the most common form of crime across the world, and the impact on victims can be devasting, but in many countries it remains a low policing priority; recent research by Dr Rasha Kassem, who leads Aston University’s Fraud Research Group, and Professor Umut Turksen of the University of Exeter, highlights that structural reforms and extra funding alone are unlikely to shift the balance to improve the response to fraud, unless policing can redefine value, harm and legitimacy in its daily practice.

INNOVATION: An evidence-based review of Thames Valley Police’s deployment of its Tactical Cycle unit in public order operations is calling on the College of Policing to develop Authorised Professional Practice for the approach, in an effort to encourage other forces in England and Wales to adopt the agile and versatile resource that can also improve public engagement and build trust and confidence, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: In the latest in The Police Student series focusing on Community and Neighbourhood Policing, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly looks at the background to and emergence of neighbourhood policing, its role in supporting confidence and legitimacy, and why the approach is likely to continue to change in response to political, economic and social pressures.

OPINION: Canadian policing faces a challenging contradiction around its response to mental illness, according to new research by Brandon University’s Professor Christopher J. Schneider and Assistant Professor Ania Theuer, and Professor Stacey Hannem of Wilfrid Laurier University, who argue that law enforcement’s framing of officers’ mental health struggles as “occupational stress injuries” contrasts sharply with the stigmatizing approach to the risks posed by mentally ill members of the public.

REPORT LAUNCH: A new thematic report exploring how the issue of domestic abuse and family violence is being tackled across the world, how this has changed, and how it continues to evolve, has been launched by Policing Insight; the report examines the innovations, legal reforms and persistent challenges around the responses to domestic abuse and family violence, as agencies strive to protect victims, reduce demand and prevent further tragedy.