FEATURE: The ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ programme to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC) – implemented across almost all territorial police forces in England and Wales – is successfully driving down acquisitive crime and promoting partnership approaches that are ending silo working, according to a new evaluation report, although challenges still remain in some areas around community perceptions and long-term resilience, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: With illicit drug use increasing by 20% over the past decade, University of York Honorary Fellow and Associate Professor Ian Hamilton looks at the scale of the harm done by drugs around the world, the changing trends in supply and demand, and calls for a “complete shift” in the way governments and societies recognise and respond to what has become a global threat.

FEATURE: In the latest article in The Police Student series, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the different courts within the criminal justice system and the roles of those who work in them, the sentencing options available to the courts, and the public perceptions of those decisions and how they are made.

FEATURE: The guilty plea and sentencing last month of 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana for the horrific murders of three young girls in Southport in July have prompted fresh debate about whether existing UK terrorism legislation is fit for purpose; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks back at how the current laws came into place, and what changes could mean for the definitions of ‘terrorism’ and ‘terrorist’.

ANALYSIS: With police forces in England and Wales already voicing fears over funding for the coming financial year, the autumn budget statement and additional £1 billion for policing announced just before Christmas eased some concerns, but still highlighted significant differences in financial resources; Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett looks at what the budget and announcement means for forces, why some will benefit while others struggle, the vagaries of the police funding formula, and the challenges ahead.

FEATURE: With all police forces facing budget constraints, improving efficiencies and ensuring value for money are constant drivers; Mark Dewell, SVP at business software firm OneAdvanced, explains how working with West Mercia Police to bring staff uniform procurement in-house has resulted in costs savings, improved service, and greater DEI support for the workforce.

OPINION: In the first in a new regular series of articles and opinion pieces from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Chair of the APCC, highlights the PCC-based initiatives underway across England and Wales to reduce crime and improve community safety, particularly focusing on crime prevention and partnership working, with new research published this week underlining the effectiveness of multi-agency, evidence-based collaboration.

OPINION: With the terrorist threat level in Australia sitting at ‘probable’, former Australian Secretary of Home Affairs Michael Pezzullo warns that the current confusion over responsibility for counter-terrorism in the country is weakening security – particularly in relation to the anti-Semitic terror threat – and sets out 10 steps the government needs to take to address the problem.

FEATURE: The ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ programme to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC) – implemented across almost all territorial police forces in England and Wales – is successfully driving down acquisitive crime and promoting partnership approaches that are ending silo working, according to a new evaluation report, although challenges still remain in some areas around community perceptions and long-term resilience, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: Investigative genetic genealogy is being used by police forces around the world to identify both the discovered remains of unknown individuals, and to track down those responsible for murders and other violent crimes; in this edited version of her Churchill Fellowship report, Dr Emma Tilley of the University of Staffordshire looks at the use of investigative genetic genealogy in police investigations around the world, the benefits and challenges it offers, and how can UK policing can implement this new technique.

OPINION: The Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) and the Superintendents’ Association of Northern Ireland recently submitted evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body on pay and conditions, calling for (amongst other things) a fully funded 4.8% pay rise across all ranks, and a new health and wellbeing structure for officers and staff; PSA National Secretary Chief Superintendent Warren Franklin explains the reasoning behind the submission, and the need for a long-term strategy going forwards.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: The International Association of Women Police (IAWP) offers annual recognition for female and male officers in various categories. Submission can be made online using the electronic nomination form. Nominations close at midnight EST on February 28th so please hurry and make your nominations!

FEATURE: The ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ programme to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC) – implemented across almost all territorial police forces in England and Wales – is successfully driving down acquisitive crime and promoting partnership approaches that are ending silo working, according to a new evaluation report, although challenges still remain in some areas around community perceptions and long-term resilience, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

FEATURE: A tri-agency response to those in mental health crisis involving members of the police, ambulance and clinical services has been further expanded across Tasmania after implementation of the approach in other parts of the state successfully reduced the need for individuals to be restrained or involuntarily detained in hospital, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: Investigative genetic genealogy is being used by police forces around the world to identify both the discovered remains of unknown individuals, and to track down those responsible for murders and other violent crimes; in this edited version of her Churchill Fellowship report, Dr Emma Tilley of the University of Staffordshire looks at the use of investigative genetic genealogy in police investigations around the world, the benefits and challenges it offers, and how can UK policing can implement this new technique.

FEATURE: Recognising the threat posed by terrorist content online (TCO), the European Commission first presented legislation to tackle the problem in 2018, with the EU TCO Regulations coming into force in June 2022; now the work of three projects – set up to help hosting service providers (HSPs) meet the risk to European security – has reached fruition, offering HSPs a wealth of guidelines, training tools and other resources, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports.

ANALYSIS: Investigative genetic genealogy is being used by police forces around the world to identify both the discovered remains of unknown individuals, and to track down those responsible for murders and other violent crimes; in this edited version of her Churchill Fellowship report, Dr Emma Tilley of the University of Staffordshire looks at the use of investigative genetic genealogy in police investigations around the world, the benefits and challenges it offers, and how can UK policing can implement this new technique.

ANALYSIS: With illicit drug use increasing by 20% over the past decade, University of York Honorary Fellow and Associate Professor Ian Hamilton looks at the scale of the harm done by drugs around the world, the changing trends in supply and demand, and calls for a “complete shift” in the way governments and societies recognise and respond to what has become a global threat.