Topical issues

Opinion: Digital evidence permeates every investigation, but the collapse of several high profile trials recently demonstrates what happens when it is mishandled. Our contributor, a digital investigation expert, who has worked for many years in industry and law enforcement including close involvement in the development of standards across the sector, says the problem goes to the heart of how evidence is gathered and forces must take action now. The author has asked to remain anonymous.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 6 (of eleven).

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 Suzy Lamplugh Trust's report on the policies and practices surrounding the licensing of taxi and private vehicle hire drivers, raising concerns that current regulations are putting passengers at risk.

ANALYSIS: Has Police Now lived up to its promise? The London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) last month published its evaluation of the Met's first Police Now cohort. Gavin Hales of The Police Foundation examines the evidence.

INSIGHT: Two years on from the College of Policing’s Leadership Review and applications for the Senior Police National Assessment Centre (SPNAC) and Strategic Command Course (SCC), the gateway to senior chief officers’ positions, have risen by a third. Policing Insight takes a closer look at the changes that have made this happen and what’s next for senior appointments.

ANALYSIS: Direct Entry is highly contentious among serving officers. Emma Williams and Jennifer Norman of Canterbury Christ Church University and Dr Fran Boag-Munroe of the Police Federation of England and Wales explore the results of the PFEW’s Annual Pay and Morale Survey 2017 to explain why that is - and warn that DE could pose real risks to the professionalisation agenda.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 5 (of eleven).

Opinion: The number of unauthorised encampments in the West Midlands has more than doubled in the last five years. Inevitably, community tension has escalated too. This has meant, in the last two years alone, calls to the police related to unauthorised encampments have doubled. West Midlands PCC David Jamieson and Policy Officer Ben Twomey believe it is time to strengthen the law.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence could be a huge boon to policing and public safety - but it must be used responsibly and win public trust. James Slessor, Managing Director of Accenture Public Safety, reflects on the possibilities.

ANALYSIS: At a time of constrained resources, one source of potential information on violent crime has yet to be fully exploited by police forces - that from ambulances. Alex Sutherland and Lucy Strang of RAND Europe explore the opportunities that this kind of data could offer.

INTERVIEW: Support worker Matt Hazelwood has just joined North Wales Police's modern slavery unit, making him the first support worker in the UK to be based within a police modern slavery unit. He tells Policing Insight about his new role and how it can improve the response to modern day slavery.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 4 (of eleven).

ANALYSIS: The Office for National Statistics has been working on a “step change” in its presentation of the crime statistics for England and Wales. As Iain Bell of the ONS explains, the new approach emphasises clear explanation of the latest trends using the best possible source of information on each type of crime.

ANALYSIS: Report Watch summarises the main findings of reports that impact on policing including responses from the main stakeholders and media reaction. Here, we look at the Forensic Regulator’s Report Annual Report which examines compliance with standards from those offering forensic services. Despite the issues relating to the discovery of malpractice at Randox Testing Services, progress has been made. However, ongoing cuts are pressurising forces to cut corners and reduce in house forensic services.

ANALYSIS: An increasing number of terrorist attacks on the West are being perpetrated by 'lone wolves'. But where does their allegiance to wider groups come from, and how close are these ties? Serving officer Martin Gallagher examines the phenomenon.

INSIGHT: Just under two years ago, Lincolnshire decided to refresh its approach to integrated offender management and the ARC Project was launched. Since then it has helped 130 individuals and significantly reduced re-offending rates.

OPINION: Sarah-Jane Lennie was a successful and well-respected DI - until one day she couldn't do it any more. Now on a career break and studying for a PhD at Manchester Met, she tells her story and invites serving officers to take part in her research into the psychological consequences of the emotional work of policing.

ANALYSIS: The latest CoPaCC thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' was published recently. The report provides a unique insight into the views of the frontline on the provision of ICT in their force, based on CoPaCC's national survey. Bernard Rix, CoPaCC Chief Executive, takes a look at user responses to Question 3 (of eleven).

Opinion: When Lincolnshire Police's annual Drink Drive campaigns failed to have an impact on the public and the media and with drink and drug driving on the rise, the force took the step of naming those charged to reignite interest and dissuade future offending. But was this the right approach? Cate Moore, Independent Chair Lincolnshire Police Ethics Panel, explores the issues.

ANALYSIS: There was a sense at this year’s Police ICT Summit 2018 was that there was much to celebrate about the progress police ICT has made in the last few years, but there is still much to do. The ambition and the commitment are there, but are the police service and the public on board?

ANALYSIS: CoPaCC's thematic report 'Police ICT: User perspectives' revealed users had similar perceptions of their ICT, but there were wide variations in terms of levels of satisfaction. Ian Wiggett takes a closer look at the findings of the survey to discover why. 

ANALYSIS: Police targets have been the subject of considerable criticism, not least for their unintended consequences. Alex Sutherland of RAND Europe and Matthew Davies explore the case of first time entrants to the youth justice system.

LIVEBLOG: Policing Insight's Live Blog of the Police ICT Summit 2018, organised by the Police ICT Company and the National Police Technology Council.

Analysis: The police use of social media has seen a massive surge in recent years and has given forces, teams and individuals the opportunity to engage with their local communities and beyond in a way never before experienced. It hasn’t always been been a smooth road and there have been some complications engendered by the open and public nature of the medium, says Cheshire Police's Neil Dewson-Smyth who looks at how forces can improve their performance.