Topical issues

Opinion: Following an initial inspection of 14 forces as part of the PEEL Inspection process for 2018/19, HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr says the cracks are starting to appear in policing. But, none of HMICFRS’ concerns are new, suggesting the cracks are already there - they are just getting wider.

Analysis: There have been nine reports and reviews of forensic science over the past decade, highlighting numerous problems. The latest House of Lord's report has described the quality and delivery of forensic provision as "inadequate". Keith Potter explores the ongoing issues facing this sector and what needs to change.

Interview: EXCLUSIVE: The former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Lord Carlile of Berriew QC CBE explains to Policing Insight the challenges of delivering Prevent, defining Islamophobia, preserving peace in Northern Ireland, and what to do about Shamima Begum.

Analysis: In March, 50 people were killed and a further 50 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley takes an in depth look at the impact this tragedy has had on New Zealand as it seeks to make sense of what has happened and to prevent it ever happening again.

opinion: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and following the recent publication of the Police Care UK survey on the impact of trauma on officers and staff, Mark Eastwood, senior director of SAS-fit Limited and an expert with 20-years of experience treating complex mental health issues, explains how stigma remains a barrier to those seeking treatment.

INTERVIEW: HMICFRS has raised concerns that neighbourhood policing has been eroded and forces don't know how many neighbourhood police officers they have, but Surrey Police's new Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, who holds the neighbourhood policing portfolio, says that is about to change.

OPINION: With knife crime rising, the controversy over the use and benefits of stop and search takes on greater urgency. Dr Megan O'Neill of the University of Dundee and Dr Liz Aston of Edinburgh Napier University explain how stop and search was transformed in Scotland by police and academics working together.

Analysis: What do the latest week’s crime statistics tell us about what is happening to violence? Answering this question is not as straightforward as it might sound, with the data appearing to tell us different stories. Understanding what is happening requires both a bird’s eye and a microscopic lens, says Crest Advisory's Harvey Redgrave.

Advertisement feature: This years’ Canterbury Centre for Police Research annual conference is about the professionalisation agenda and the challenges to achieving its’ aims in the current climate of austerity and rising demand.

OPINION: Increasing pressure on police has led to officers recording incidents, rather than actively preventing them. Serving officer Martin Gallagher warns that this trend is damaging to public confidence and that police need to position themselves as society's active guardians, not passive observers.

Analysis: Like all forms of extremism, the rise of the far right has been ably assisted by the internet, but now law enforcement is using technology to stem the spread of extremism. Policing Insight contributor and Senior Research Fellow at CENTRIC Andrew Staniforth examines the RED-Alert project which detects content that fuels division and hatred in real time.

INSIGHT: Can a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) make a difference to how fire and rescue services are run? Each of the four PFCCs set out a local business case that said yes, they could do better and save cash along the way. Policing Insight takes a look at what progress has been made in the early stages of the transition to the new governance model for fire.

Analysis: As the new National Police Wellbeing Service is launched this week in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Nikola Muranova, a Policing Studies student and Lecturer Nick Kealey from the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies at Liverpool John Moores University review recent research into police officers attitudes towards mental health. 

INSIGHT: Det Ch Supt Chris Todd is the West Midlands Police Head of Professional Standards and the NPCC Lead for Data Analytics. In this exclusive article for Policing Insight, he responds to recent press coverage suggesting that the West Midlands Police Ethics Committee had "raised the alarm" over the force's potential use of a 'predictive policing' tool.

ANALYSIS: As universities and police forces move forward with the planned delivery of degree apprenticeships for new recruits, one area of focus is increasingly how those students are to be assessed. Rich Honess of Canterbury Christ Church University explains why universities love essays so much and what alternatives are possible.

NEWS: Following the launch of the World Class Policing Awards 2019 earlier this month, we are delighted to announce Police Oracle will stand alongside Policing Insight as the official media partner for the World Class Policing Awards 2019, celebrating the best of policing.

ANALYSIS: At the time of the 2011 London riots, many commentators and politicians blamed the rioters rather than looking for underlying causes. However, a three-year research project suggests this was mistaken. Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews; Clifford Stott, of Keele University, and John Drury, of the University of Sussex, explain their findings.

Opinion: Whilst programmes treating post-traumatic stress are available to police officers, the Quarantine Method tackles issues before they impact an officers’ mental health. Al McGregor of Inner Armour, which developed the method, argues passionately that it’s time for a rethink - all officers must be trained in positive psychology.

Analysis: Ten years ago, London was the scene of the G20 Summit protests. This week climate change activists caused major disruption in the city. Protests are part and parcel of a liberal democracy, but how do we ensure they are ethically policed? Professor Peter Joyce and Dr Wendy Laverick examine the lessons of history and the implications for policing future protests.

Opinion: The role of Police and Crime Commissioner may still be in its relative infancy, but PCCs are already driving change, in particular, the current drugs policy which former drug policy lead for West Midlands OPCC and now Head of Policy for the National Youth Advocacy Service Ben Twomey argues is well overdue for reform.

Innovation: Lewis Westbury, a software developer for 15 years, a special constable for almost 10 and now founder and volunteer coordinator of Police Rewired, highlights several interesting pieces of research sourced in Crime Survey of England and Wales data, and the implications for developing practical tools in the fight against crime.

OPINION: While the private sector increasingly sifts job candidates on the basis of personal attributes and transferable skills, policing is moving to a degree-based system. Former officer and now CEO of Mightify Tom Wheelhouse argues that this will reduce diversity and focus on a younger demographic while the private sector widens the net.

Insight: Development of the concept of emotional intelligence began in the 1980s and its four attributes of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and social skills are all essential factors for a successful police officer. Former UK police officer and now Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Alan Beckley looks at how consideration of emotional intelligence is influencing the recruitment and development of police personnel.

Opinion: Mobile data, interoperability, drones, evolving communications: just four of the key technology challenges facing policing right now. Ian Thompson, the CEO of the British Association of Public Communications Officers (BAPCO), looks at why it is so difficult to procure and implement solutions that deliver the benefits required.