Topical issues

ANALYSIS: A new report funded by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research has highlighted Police Scotland's ethical and effective use of ‘influence policing’, which uses ‘nudge campaigns’ as part of a strategic communications approach to changing offenders’ behaviour; but researchers have also voiced concerns over the harmful and unethical use of similar approaches by other UK bodies, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: With mass shootings an increasing concern in the US and Canada, and many European countries alert to the deadly potential of attacks by armed terrorists, the response to such events by both police and those targeted can be crucial in saving lives; Vernon White, former Chief of Police for Ottawa Police Service, and Joe Carlebach, former Hammersmith and Fulham councillor, explore the approaches used in the police response to active shooters, and what facilities and organisations can be doing to protect their communities.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Debbie Kettle talks about the benefits of this innovative software and also the importance of Leadership Development software, enabling leaders to put in place strategies to help navigate Officers through the digital landscape and understand the recent legislation positioned to improve a victim’s journey.

INTERVIEW: In the latest in a series of interviews with leading figures involved in the research and investigation of organised crime, Policing Insight’s Dr Chris Allen spoke to drug expert witness and consultant Matt Lockyer about the valuable lessons from working with former drug users, the significant impact of Operation Venetic, and the importance of independent assessment of evidence in drug-related court cases.

OPINION: The recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, and the response of the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza, have prompted long and heated debates about the terminology used to describe the actions and those involved; but former Police Scotland Superintendent Martin Gallagher, now a police lecturer and terrorism specialist, argues that there is a clear definition of terrorism and terrorist activity, the criteria for which can used to measure the actions of both sides in this conflict.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Digital transformation is something of a buzz word in British policing, and the switch to cloud computing is viewed by many as crucial to leveraging the greatest benefits from those transformational opportunities; Ian Holmes, commercial sales manager, and Klaus Dalgaard, business development manager, both of Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division, spoke to Policing Insight about the move towards the cloud and policing’s wider digital transformation journey.

FEATURE: As legislation that will create a new oversight body to replace the current Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) works its way through the Irish parliamentary process, the current GSOC Chairperson has warned that unless adequate resources and specialists are allocated to the new body it will be unable to effectively deliver its expanded role, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: Terrorism researchers, policy makers and industry stakeholders will gather in Brussels later this month for the 2023 Security Research Event; ahead of the conference, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at some of the key projects that will feature at the event, focusing particularly on continuing efforts to tackle terrorist content online.

INTERVIEW: In a few days’ time the annual Inspire Justice Awards take place at the QEII Centre in London, celebrating the essential contribution and achievements of the wider justice workforce, and the unsung heroes often hidden from public view; ahead of this year’s ceremony, Policing Insight spoke to Mike and Danny – founders of Lads Like Us and speakers at the event – about their own journeys through the criminal justice system, and the importance of encouraging young men to talk about childhood trauma.

FEATURE: As police forces in the UK collaborate with local authorities, government and community groups to promote National Hate Crime Awareness Week, new figures from the US and the UK highlight an increase in hate crime – particularly anti-Semitism – with incidents surging in the wake of the horrific attacks and continuing conflict between Israel and Gaza, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: This Friday (20 October) marks a year since the final report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was published; to mark this, Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation and former Deputy Chief Constable of Merseyside, has written about the journey policing has been on in the approach to investigating child sexual abuse and exploitation, and how victims and survivors are supported.

ANALYSIS: New research funded by the N8 Police Research Partnership into the experiences of both victim-survivors of coercive and controlling behaviour (CCB) and frontline officers involved in such cases has found that while policing’s understanding and awareness of the manipulative tactics employed by CCB perpetrators has improved, stereotypical images of victims can still mean such behaviour goes undetected, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: Policing in the UK and internationally seemingly struggles to find the best approach to using social media, with forces and officers either criticised for not being proactive enough, or drawn into controversy as situations go viral; former police officer Oliver Laurence, now a policing consultant, looks at some of the recent challenges that have faced the UK’s largest force in its use of Twitter and X (caution this article contains content that may upset some readers).

FEATURE: As the impact of climate change on policing continues to be discussed around the world, the UK’s recently updated National Risk Register has highlighted some of the key threats to safety and security, including environmental risks; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at one of those threats – flooding – in more detail, and explores the policing and emergency services planned response, as well as EU research in reducing disaster risk.

FEATURE: The consequences of climate change are increasingly recognised as a growing concern for policing and community safety, and were the subject of a recent @WeCops Twitter Chat; in this article Dr David Lydon of Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), who hosted the chat, reflects on the conversations and comments during the discussion, providing a narrative of the anonymised views and opinions of those taking part.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by New Zealand Police to identify, analyse and investigate criminals and criminal activity; but University of Auckland Associate Professor Alexandra Sims believes that new legislation and independent monitoring is needed to protect against the dangers of the erosion of privacy and algorithmic bias, and ensure compliance with existing frameworks and principles.

FEATURE: Concerns over the wellbeing of investigators – particularly those involved in sexual offence cases – has been raised in a number of reports and reviews, but recent efforts to focus on those issues has helped to significantly reduce the number of unfilled detective vacancies; ahead of next month’s Investigator Wellbeing Week of Action, Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to organiser Sarah-Jayne Bray about the aims of the event and the difference the renewed focus is making to officer and staff wellbeing.

INTERVIEW: With policing at a ‘critical juncture’ on a number of levels, the potential for digitisation and technological transformation to make a positive impact should not underestimated; in the last in a series of features focused on the recent UK Policing Digital Summit, Policing Insight’s Graham Jarvis spoke to Alex Bowen and Owen White of the Police Digital Service about the opportunities to stimulate the future of policing through digital technology.

INTERVIEW: As campaign group Stamp Out Spiking continues with calls for new legislation to tackle the offence as well as more support for support for victims, Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to CEO Dawn Dines about their work with police and other organisations to improve training and awareness around the crime.

FEATURE: The recent horrific terrorist attacks on Israel, as well as the discovery of an extensive terrorist plot targeting Tehran, have highlighted once again the ever-present threat of terrorism, and it’s potentially devastating impact; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest initiative to protect public spaces across the UK and Europe from such threats, as well as new EU funding to develop measures that will increase the security of citizens against terrorism.

ANALYSIS: While the term ‘shoplifting’ suggest images of someone pocketing a chocolate bar, current retail thefts by organised crime groups in the UK are often more akin to systematic looting, yet the vast majority of offences still go un reported; City, University of London Criminology Professor Dr Emmeline Taylor argues that although an under-funded police service and criminal justice system has exacerbated the problem, retailers themselves could take more steps to safeguard stock and staff.

FEATURE: Facing recruitment and retention challenges, Queensland Police Service has launched a new Special Constable scheme to attract those who have recently retired or resigned back into the force; and as Acting Inspector Howard Kemp explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons, the scheme is also providing an incentive to older new recruits who know they won’t have to leave the Service completely at 60, but can return as a Special.

INTERVIEW: In the latest in a series of articles focusing on the recent UK Police Digital Summit, Policing Insight’s Graham Jarvis spoke to Norfolk Deputy Chief Constable Simon Megicks, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Digital Public Contact, about how improved police communications and engagement, increased digital contact channel options, and tailored one-to-one messaging can help to address the decline in public trust and confidence in policing.

FEATURE: The rapid expansion in the use of digital devices has presented new opportunities and challenges for police in the UK and internationally in leveraging information from digital data in criminal investigations; ahead of next week’s London Policing College workshop focusing on these issues, lecturer and consultant Dr Stuart Hyde, an experienced chief police officer and previous national police lead for data compliance, explores some the key concerns around skillsets, the regulatory framework, and the dangers of over-reliance on specialists.