Topical issues

ANALYSIS: The way ambulance services use social media has lessons for police - particularly in their focus on the humanity of paramedics. Dan Slee of comms2point0 looks at the best of ambulance service communications and what other blue light services can learn.

Analysis: With an online crime reported to police every ten minutes, forces are investing in cyber security training. In the final of our three part series focusing on cyber-crime, CEO and co-founder of Cyber Security Intelligence Alfred Rolington says whilst forces are making progress, there's a long way to go.

OPINION: In a report out today, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) argues that - through an approach called Group Violence Intervention (GVI) - it is possible to change the dynamics in gangs and drive down violence. Rory Geoghegan, Head of Criminal Justice at the CSJ, sets out the background to the CSJ's latest report, and argues that failing to implement GVI will consign more young people to a lawless existence.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Policing Insight has over a thousand in depth articles on a wide range of policing issues. In our SPOTLIGHT ON series we group articles under one subject heading allowing you quick and easy reference when you need it. Here, we tackle spit guards or hoods which have recently returned to the spotlight following the MPS' decision not to issue them to frontline officers.

ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at HMICFRS's Understanding the difference - The initial response to hate crime, published in July.

ANALYSIS: Knife crime is rising, and many have speculated about the causes of the rise - but what do we actually know about the reasons young people carry weapons? Dr Iain Brennan, Reader in Criminology at the University of Hull, explains his important new research.

Opinion: The government has accepted The Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation that forces should appoint apprentice constables on a starting salary of between £18,000 and pay point 1 (£23,586), but Police Federation Professional Development lead Dave Bamber warns it could drive the new entrants into debt.

ANALYSIS: With the on-going debate on the legal status of cannabis, Charlie Lloyd, Geoff Page and Sharon Grace from York University discuss the results of their research in North Yorkshire looking at the day-to-day policing of cannabis possession and analysis of the data on drug possession offences. The research raises important questions about how police forces in England and Wales should deal with this common but to some, trivial, offence.

ANALYSIS: With the end of one World Cup, attention is turning to the next, due to be held in Qatar in 2022. But what is the best way of ensuring a peaceful competition? Lucy Strang and Christian van Stolk of RAND Europe explore the evidence.

LONG READ: International policing missions produce a range of challenges even when the international presence is strong. Joe Napolitano, a former police officer in Northern Ireland, describes the difficulties and successes of policing Kosovo and elsewhere in the wake of conflict.

INTERVIEW: The National Apprenticeship Scheme is an alternative route for young people to progress into a rewarding career. For 18 year old Rebecca Suddaby, a one year administration apprenticeship at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Humberside has led to her gaining valuable experience to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer. We speak with Rebecca to hear her story….

Opinion: With twenty-five years policing experience under his belt, Devon and Cornwall Chief Inspector Stephen Lenney takes a closer look at frontline policing and the pressures it faces and asks whether it is time for a complete rethink on policing and its processes.

OPINION: The second of a new series of articles providing a platform for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to look back on the first half of their current term, highlighting their achievements so far and ambitions for the remainder of their term. Hardyal Dhindsa the PCC for Derbyshire gives an example of the PCC's ability to drive change through partnership.

OPINION: With police forces in the U.S. and elsewhere investing widely in technology solutions to tackle crime, James R. Sisco argues that an approach blending technology, data, and human understanding is required to deliver strategies that rebuild trust and set the conditions necessary for policing techniques to be effective.

INSIGHT: The globalisation of mass communication and the permeation of the internet into almost all aspects of society has further enabled serious societal threats to exploit and target citizens, businesses and, through the emergence of online terrorism, democratic ideals. Professor Babak Akhgar FBCS, Director of CENTRIC (Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence & Organised Crime Research) highlights the challenges and introduces a new multi-disciplinary research and innovation project which seeks to address them.

Opinion: Hoax calls are the bane of the emergency services. One force alone received 1,333 such calls in 2017, but how do you stop callers wasting precious police time and resources? Kathryn Jeffrey of APD Communications offers a solution to the problem.

OPINION: Allan Fairley, UK Police & Justice Managing Director for Accenture, works with a range of public sector, police and justice clients. In his latest article, Allan provides his thoughts on how robotics and automation can help officers and staff have more time for engaging with their communities.

OPINION: The first of a new series of articles providing a platform for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to look back on the first half of their current term, highlighting their achievements so far and ambitions for the remainder of their term. We start with the thoughts of Lord Willy Bach, the PCC for Leicestershire

ANALYSIS: The publication of the latest crime statistics generated intense media scrutiny of police performance, with headlines focused on poor detection rates or outcomes. Former Greater Manchester Police ACC and regular Policing Insight contributor Ian Wiggett looks at the challenge of measuring how good the police are at detecting crime.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (formerly the IPCC) annual report on deaths in and following police custody.

Q&A: Analytical and data processing software firm Forensic Analytics is the latest company to collaborate with The Police ICT Company, having recently been recognised on its Vendor Management Programme. Forensic Analytics Managing Director and co-founder Joe Hoy  gives his insight into the challenges facing policing in this space and how the collaboration with The Police ICT Company has simplified the procurement process.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction. Here we take a look at HMICFRS' fourth inspection of the National Crime Agency which, overall, finds an effective and efficient service, whilst highlighting areas for improvement.

Long Read: In the second of our three-part series on cyber crime and its effects on  UK policing, CEO and co-founder of Cyber Security Intelligence Alfred Rolington offers a detailed insight into the current cyber crime landscape and how UK policing is managing the threat.

ANALYSIS: The scale of the challenge involved in protecting the UK's borders is unprecedented. Professor Babak Akhgar of Sheffield Hallam University explains how the work of Project ROBORDER - testing innovative surveillance technologies - could help border security address emerging threats.