Topical issues

OPINION: In the last of his football policing blogs, Ch. Supt. Owen West puts recent public order theory into action. He reports on policing a medium-risk football match (Bradford City vs Blackpool) with a tiny Police Liaison Team (PLT) focused on engagement, rapport building and problem solving.

ANALYSIS: Recent 'lone wolf' terrorist attacks have been ascribed to extremist Islamism - but is this a fair way of describing the ideology that motivates these attackers? Serving officer Martin Gallagher argues it's time to think about what the attackers really want, rather than the religion to which they claim adherence.

ANALYSIS: The recent trend in crime figures appears to be heading downwards, but police forces are under more pressure than ever before. Sam Langton of Manchester Metropolitan University calls for increased collaboration between forces and academia to get more realistic estimations of the demands that police face.

ANALYSIS: In the second of a series of special articles examining the progress of Police and Crime Commissioners as they assume joint governance over police and fire services in their areas, Catherine Levin reports on significant activity over the last two months including a PCC withdrawing from the process, publication of the highly critical Avon FRA inspection report and six PCCs surging ahead with their plans.

OPINION: Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro, the national APCC lead on Equalities, Diversity and Human Rights (EDHR) which oversees stop and search looks at how the powers are being used, amid continued concerns regarding their effectiveness.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Bedrock of policing’ is regularly used as a descriptor for neighbourhood or community policing but its current parlous state would suggest that perhaps it isn’t really as cherished as some would have us believe. Humberside PCC Keith Hunter makes the case for neighbourhood policing to regain its position in policing priorities.

OPINION: Is policing going in the right direction? Do we even know, let alone agree, what direction policing is heading? Serving officer Nathan Constable and Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University debate whether policing is on 'the Bus to Abilene'.

OPINION: Former Greater Manchester Police ACC, Ian Wiggett gives his view on the latest developments in police and fire governance and the newly re-branded HMICFRS expanded role to take in fire.

OPINION: The @wecops chat on Wednesday 19th July looked at the controversial Police Educational Qualifications Framework (PEQF), focusing on Recognition of Prior Experience and Learning. It was led by Emma Williams of Canterbury Christ Church University, serving frontline officer Dan Reynolds, and the College of Policing. Dan and Emma recount the debate.

PCC INTERVIEW: A third of police time in Kent is spent dealing with mental health issues, a pattern replicated across the country. Kent PCC Matthew Scott is the deputy portfolio lead on mental health for the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC). He speaks to Syreeta Lund about some of the challenges.

ANALYSIS: 'Excited delirium' is increasingly used to describe those presenting as violent and unmanageable who often end up in police custody. David Baker of Coventry University explores whether the term is a convenient fiction or a useful shorthand for a dangerous set of symptoms.

OPINION: Katie Kempen, Chief Executive of the Independent Custody Visitors' Association, looks at mental health issues in custody and how the ICVA can help to protect those in mental health crisis who find themselves in custody.

ANALYSIS: It is an undeniable fact that victims of stalking are more likely to receive protection and have their allegations investigated more thoroughly, with a greater probability of a successful prosecution, in Scotland than they are elsewhere in the United Kingdom.  Why should that be?  How has Scotland’s approach been more progressive? Former President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Niven Rennie describes the Scottish approach

INSIGHT: HMIC becomes HMICFRS - Catherine Levin looks beyond the ungainly acronym to what this means for the newly expanded organisation and reviews reaction from police, fire and local government.

INTERVIEW: Oscar Kilo was launched six weeks ago as a national police wellbeing resource. Lancashire Chief Constable Andy Rhodes has led the initiative and speaks to Gary Mason about the importance of its mission to share learning and best practice from across emergency and blue light services so organisations can invest the very best into the wellbeing of their staff.

OPINION: Academic collaborations with police are becoming more common - but much academic work on policing is still written in language that is inaccessible and difficult to understand. Martin Holleran of York St John University calls for universities to reach out and consider the wider impact of their work.

OPINION: A digital policing summit held recently in London brought together public safety and thought leaders from across the UK and overseas to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from digital disruption. James Slessor, who leads Accenture’s Public Safety business, outlines the outcomes from the summit and of the shared-experiences of industry attendees.  

OPINION: Demand - and crime levels, particularly violent crime - are up, while police officers are under ever growing pressure. Chief Superintendent John Sutherland says it's past time for a proper, grown-up conversation about the future of policing in the UK

Analysis: Officers have always gathered evidence, but now that technological advances have placed digital evidence from multiple sources at the core of investigations, the challenge for forces is how to gather, store and share massive amounts of data. Is the cloud the solution?

Insight: The cost of cybercrime to business is almost incalculable. As criminals exploit the speed, convenience and anonymity of the internet – the cost is shared by government, commerce and individuals and these expenses are unexpected, unbudgeted and often take a toll beyond just money. Bromium EMEA CTO Fraser Kyne explores the investigative tools available to the police.

Partner announcement: Following the publication Vigilant's Digital Policing Review Capability Assessment 2017, Stephen Roberts announces new research into issues suggested by the service, findings from which will be published on Policing Insight.

OPINION: What are police forces chasing when they seek greater diversity? And is it enough to focus on the percentages? Serving officer Gareth Stubbs argues it's time to return to first principles: diversity isn't about numbers but about legitimacy.

Insight: In 2015, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) published a report outlining the direction the service was taking in terms of digitising its investigation and intelligence capabilities. Two years on and one force is making encouraging progress. 

Analysis: Dr Karen Lumsden, a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Loughborough, explores the dynamics of police and academic partnerships in terms of what works and what doesn't.