Topical issues

Analysis: The new Strategic Principles for Police ICT make good common sense, and are hard to argue against.  We can all agree on the importance of interoperability, good management of data, user-friendliness, and the ability to switch across different platforms.  Efficiency, effectiveness; a rounded view of value for money; future proofing: what’s not to like? Yet the principles also present challenges, and following them will not be straightforward, explains former Greater Manchester Police ACC Ian Wiggett.

Analysis: The recently-published ICT Strategy, drawn up by the National Police Technology Council (NPTC), contains 26 principles designed to guide forces through their approach to ICT. But, when 43 police forces in England and Wales have 2,000 separate ICT systems, can it succeed?

Analysis: Positive information-sharing protocols, closer working relationships with all partners and strong effective leadership are key tackling Child Sexual Exploitation, explains Mark Cooper of GreyMalkin Consulting.

ANALYSIS: The latest PEEL report highlights the complex and significant pressures that policing is under, and acknowledges the difficult decisions that policing has to make. But is HMICFRS really becoming part of the solution, or is the Inspectorate still part of the problem? Policing Insight's Editor Carina O’Reilly analyses the report.

Interview: Four years ago, Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, commissioned a report that would redefine the police service's entire approach to those with mental health problems. Now, just as legislation comes into force banning the use of police cells as a place of safety for under 18s and restricting their use for adults detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mr Ellis says there remains unresolved issues and it's time to revisit the debate.  

Opinion: Hosted by the Police ICT Company, the National Police Technology Council and Cityforum, the third annual Digital Policing Summit gathered technology and security professionals, police policymakers and government representatives to discuss the digital challenges, changes and opportunities faced by UK police in 2017. Thomas Drohan, Commercial Director for Clue, outlines five critical issues raised by the event.

OPINION: A form of predictive policing, the Suspect Targeting Management Plan, has been in operation in Australia for 17 years. Dr Vicki Sentas of the University of New South Wales warns that the programme is racialised, targeted overwhelmingly at young people, and damaging and disruptive to their lives.

NEW REPORT: Body-worn video has seen huge growth in UK policing with millions of pounds spent on equipment and back office systems. CoPaCC's latest thematic looks at the development of police body-worn video and provides a guide to the key opportunities and challenges in terms of the technology, implementation and use

OPINION: Is the College of Policing working as well as it should be? Serving officer Nathan Constable says the relationship between the College and serving officers is strained, and sets out an urgent plea for the College to reflect and rebuild - before it's too late.

ANALYSIS: A recent study of the police’s use of data has found that UK police forces had access to a vast amount of digital data, but lacked the technological capability to use it effectively. Alexander Babuta of the Royal United Services Institute explores the opportunities presented by big data policing technologies, and the organisational barriers that must be overcome to make effective use of them.

ANALYSIS: Crimes recorded by the police are rocketing - yet the Crime Survey of England and Wales shows crime going down. Which is correct? Are they even measuring the same things? Dr Melissa Hamilton of the University of Surrey explains the difference - and what it means for our understanding of crime and police numbers.

NEWS: The results of the first annual police ICT user survey will be published shortly. Undertaken by CoPaCC and supported by the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, the survey provides a unique, independent insight into what police officers really think of their police ICT systems. Policing Insight talks to senior stakeholders involved in the survey about its potential impact and what needs to change. We also announce the winner of the survey prize draw for an iPad.

OPINION: The Angiolini Review examining deaths and serious incident in police custody was published this week. Police Inspector Michael Brown, author of Mental Health Cop Blog, explores the issues raised by the report.

OPINION: The successful use of DNA evidence to gain convictions in high profile cases has led to significant investment in databases. But are such databases effective? Carole McCartney and Aaron Opoku Amankwaa of Northumbria University examine the evidence.

Opinion: With the mental health of police officers and staff increasingly under the spotlight, Patrick Cairns, CEO of the Police Treatment Centres, explains the benefits of the PTC's Psychological Wellbeing Programme and what more Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners can do to support the PTC's work. 

Analysis: The launch of HMICFRS’s consultation earlier this month on the long-awaited force management statements sets out its ambition to use them as the basis for a new, risk-based form of inspection. But what will this mean for forces – and HMICFRS? Mark Cooper takes a closer look.

Opinion: Allan Fairley, MD, Accenture Police Services explores the issues surrounding the lack of joined up data in the criminal justice system. 

OPINION: What kind of research best informs police practice? It depends on the question. Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University and serving officer Gareth Stubbs explore the pedigree of academic research into the police and the political undercurrents that drive it today.

INSIGHT: In the second of a series of articles, Jonathan Rees, owner of Momoho and an expert in developing high-performing teams in the bluelight sector, examines different ways to prioritise your workload.

OPINION: ENABLE UK is a new participant action research project funded by the N8 Policing Research Partnership (N8 PRP), and run in collaboration with Keele Academic Policing Collaboration (KPAC) involving eight police forces, Police Scotland, and the College of Policing. Chief Superintendent Owen West from West Yorkshire Police and Amanda Jacks from the Football Supporters Federation explain.

ANALYSIS: Former Greater Manchester Police ACC Ian Wiggett and Gavin Hales, Associate Fellow at The Police Foundation review the impact of the pre-charge bail reforms implemented in the Policing and Crime Act in April 2017

LONG READ: The experience of terrorist attacks in the US and in Germany shows us how important it is for police and security agencies to share systems. But what can we learn from those countries that have begun the process of harmonising police ICT? In this Long Read,Hans-Jürg Käser of the Swiss Canton of Berne explores what European countries have done towards consolidating police systems and what can be learned.

INSIGHT: Oliver Gower, Deputy Director of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit warns cybercrime is escalating, its impact on victims is significant and the time is right for forces to ready themselves to meet the threat.

ANALYSIS: Following the RUSI's publication of a paper on police use of data, Former GMP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett explores its potential applications and limitations.