Topical issues

interview: This month, the Home Office launched new software to speed up online child abuse investigations and limit the number of indecent images police officers have to view. Benjamin Gancz, former Metropolitan Police detective and CEO of Qumodo, which was involved in developing the software, talks to Policing Insight about the potential impact of this new tool.

Long Read: Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley has analysed the findings of over 60 different studies of body-worn cameras (BWC) providing an insight into the different perspectives on their effectiveness in gathering evidence, lowering police rates of use of force and violence towards the police.

insight: The phrase “80% of what the police do has nothing to do with fighting crime” is often bandied about, but where does it come from and is it accurate? Statistic Regulator for the Office for Statistics Regulation Lewis Jack discusses the OSR's review of the value of police statistics in promoting public understanding of policing.

Interview: EXCLUSIVE: Merseyside Chief Constable Andy Cooke talks to Policing Insight about why forces need to increase their use of Stop and Search, why fighting serious and organised crime needs large scale investment and what it is that keeps him awake at night.

ANALYSIS: With Lincolnshire Police beginning a Judicial Review against the College of Policing, the controversy over the new police entry routes, the PEQF, shows no sign of abating. Dr Emma Williams and Jack Chapman (research assistant) of Canterbury Christ Church University examine the operational readiness of forces for the new qualification requirements.

NEWS: The closing date for the inaugural World Class Policing Awards 2019 recognising excellence in policing has now passed and the organisers say they have been overwhelmed by the quality and diversity of the nominations.

Opinion: On the day the Home Office published the Frontline Review on officers' views, including wellbeing, at the Police Federation's headquarters, CEO of PoliceBox Simon Hall happened to be there holding a workshop on police ICT with frontline officers. Their message, he says, was clear - reduce bureaucracy by improving police ICT and wellbeing will improve too.

Analysis: The Independent Terrorism Legislation Reviewer faces increasingly complex terrorist threats, from home-grown extremists to the full scale of international terrorism. Policing Insight Contributor Andrew Staniforth looks at the history of the role and the demands the new Independent Reviewer will face, especially as they relate to policing.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises the findings of the State of Policing report by HMCIC Sir Thomas Winsor which gives an overview of the current situation in policing in England and Wales.

News: EXCLUSIVE: Lincolnshire's Chief Constable Bill Skelly is mounting a legal challenge against the College of Policing over the new degree entry scheme that could reduce the force's frontline by 40 officers or 10 per cent of its deployable strength. Policing Insight reports.

Opinion: The Home Office has published its much-anticipated Frontline Review, but the service has seen many reviews many of which have resulted in little change so what's different about this one? Policing Insight's Editor Tina Orr-Munro takes a look.

Opinion: The forces that have been trialling live facial recognition (LFR) technology in the UK have been closely monitored by the Information Commissioner's Office. While forces have legitimate reasons to use LFR, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham says there are privacy and data protection issues that still need to be addressed.

Insight: Scrutiny is an essential element of effective police governance, but how do you implement a process that is open and wide-ranging and genuinely supports improvement in a force? Policy and Assurance Advisor for Dyfed-Powys OPCC Claire Bryant and the OPCC team have introduced a new scrutiny framework that aims to do just that.

analysis: Ten years ago, a WHO report urged governments to look at long-term social policy solutions to knife crime rather than view it as a policing issue. With a number of cities in the UK in the grip of a knife crime epidemic, Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth explains how this can be achieved.

ANNOUNCEMENT: As official media partner of the World Class Policing Awards 2019, Policing Insight is delighted to announce the nominations for this year's awards are now OPEN UNTIL FRIDAY, 12th JULY 2019 - a week's extension of the original deadline. Get your nominations in NOW!

Analysis: The government has proposed legislation banning police cells as a place of safety for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, but with just 163 health-based places available and over 30,000 people detained under the Act, Daniel Moloney of the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice at Northampton University examines the impact the legislation could have on policing.

Opinion: The police and MI5 are independent of each other but often collaborate closely especially on counter-terrorism. Policing Insight contributor Andrew Staniforth outlines the repercussions that MI5's recent breach of data security law will have for the police service.

Opinion: The mental health of armed Ministry of Defence police officers has deteriorated to such an extent that it 'risks catastrophic consequences' according to the Defence Federation Chairman. Eamon Keating calls on his force to urgently improve care for its frontline officers.

opinion: CEO of PoliceBox Simon Hall examines how adopting a 'cloud first' approach will enable the police service to fulfil ambitious goals outlined in Policing Vision 2025.

Analysis: Women offenders interact with the criminal justice system in unique ways and have specific vulnerabilities that set them apart from other offenders. Crest Advisory's Sophie du Mont offers PCCs and policy makers five tips to improving outcomes for women offenders by looking at what works best for them.

interview: The recent threat by Extinction Rebellion to disrupt Heathrow airport with multiple drones has highlighted the risk drones pose to safety and security. Drone detection expert and Director of Saher (UK) David Fortune explains to Policing Insight how the police can mitigate the risk of rogue drone incursions.

OPINION: With nominations for the inaugural World Class Policing Awards set to close on Friday, 5th July, Bernard Rix, Publisher of Policing Insight and Founder of the Awards, calls on YOU to make your nominations NOW!

Interview: Sheffield Hallam University has teamed up with South Yorkshire Police to offer three separate routes into policing. The University's Head of Policing Principal Lecturer Paul Berry explains the differences between the courses and why he would have leapt at the opportunity to do the police apprenticeship degree.

opinion: With the Police and Crime Commissioner elections set for 2020, Dr Steve Watts draws on research and his own experience as a PCC candidate to question the democratic legitimacy of PCCs and the obstacles independent candidates face when running for office.