Innovation

INNOVATION: In the latest in a series of articles exploring the opportunities and challenges presented to police by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), Chief Philip Lukens explores how to avoid vendor lock-in while ensuring the ethical and effective use of AI technologies in police departments.

FEATURE: Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest opportunities for police researchers and innovators under the Horizon Europe programme, which includes funding specifically to explore the ability to mitigate new threats and to adapt investigation strategies in the ‘Internet of Things’ era.

INTERVIEW: Having had her own battles with anxiety and mental health, Police Scotland’s Sgt Laura Gibson embarked on a Churchill Fellowship study to explore the efforts made by law enforcement agencies in the US to better prepare recruits for the psychological impact of the job, as well as to understand more about why officers do take their own lives – lessons she believes could have real benefits in the UK, as she told Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

FEATURE: With 2024 marking the 25th anniversary of the launch of Europol, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the organisation’s efforts to support member states in the fight against key crime threats, and in particular the work of the Innovation Lab in identifying and developing new technologies, and promoting partnerships and regulatory standards.

INNOVATION: With UK police forces working hard and looking at innovative approaches to improve the victim experience and enhance public trust and confidence, Jamie Robinson and Saman Ridha of Capgemini Invent look at the latest digitally-driven communications portals being pioneered by Thames Valley Police and others to create a more effective victim-centric approach.

INNOVATION: In the latest in a series of articles exploring the opportunities and challenges presented to police by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), Chief Philip Lukens explores the potential for improving officer safety, wellbeing and performance though the use of AI systems to detect fatigue in police drivers.

INSIGHT: Recruiting and training a diverse workforce with the necessary skills and talents remains a particular challenge for policing; Harry Gooding, Director of Skills and Learning at Hays, explains a new apprenticeship approach which focuses on an individual’s transferable skills, motivation and attitude rather than academic qualifications, and includes a 10-week ‘bootcamp’ providing the coaching and learning required to embark on a range of policing careers.

INNOVATION: Alongside legitimate and beneficial uses of the internet, the spread of digital hate speech and employing online platforms to harass, threaten, and in some instances encourage real-world violence presents a significant challenge; Police Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest attempts to use artificial intelligence to tackle a large and growing problem.

INNOVATION: The surge of digital data and evidence has meant that policing is under growing pressure to maximise the opportunities offered by technology, particularly around data sharing; Naomi Bolton, Account Manager for Blue Light Services at Cloud Gateway, examines how police forces can effectively navigate the transition to cloud to enhance their operational capabilities and collaboration.

INNOVATION: Following confirmation in December of the UK’s associate status in relation to the Horizon Europe research programme, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at one of the latest rounds of funding opening up next month, which could see UK police forces working with their EU counterparts on projects to improve forensics and lawful evidence collection in the fight against online child sexual abuse.

INNOVATION: In the latest in a series of articles exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in policing, Chief Philip Lukens explores how AI can enhance and improve the services police provide without cutting workforces, and ensuring there is no damaging impact on public trust and legitimacy.

INNOVATION: Against the backdrop of changing legislation and technological innovation, police and technology advisor Paul Kennedy, and Josh Hartlage, founder of tech company AdventFS, explore how technologies can help police and other agencies to be more efficient and effective in the application of out-of-court resolutions, guided by the principle that OOCRs should always meet the needs of victims, first and foremost.

FEATURE: With artificial intelligence increasingly important in the investigation process for collating and analysing large volumes of data, new EU funding is now up for grabs for proposals that can help policing and security practitioners undertake fast and flexible analysis of large data sets to improve the fight against transnational crime and terrorism, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports.

INNOVATION: As part of a wider initiative to tackle violence in the night-time economy, West Yorkshire Police has used targeted social media campaigns appearing on mobile devices, with impressive results; as other forces look to learn from West Yorkshire’s success, Ch Insp James Kitchen spoke to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons about the thinking behind the project, and how similar approaches could offer potential in tackling other challenges.

OPINION: UK policing faces a continuing struggle to leverage the maximum effectiveness and efficiency out of the use of new technology, while accommodating concerns around ethics and human rights; Darren Scates, the Met Police Chief Digital Data and Technology Officer, looks at some of the particular challenges around the practical implementation and delivery of innovative technologies, and suggests steps the service could take to improve outcomes.

INNOVATION: A new digital notebook app being rolled out across NZ Police – the latest step towards Commissioner Andrew Coster’s goal of a fully digitalised case environment – offers a real-time facility with clear time and date stamps, improved case management, and transparent audit trail to generate greater confidence in the criminal justice process, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

INTERVIEW: This month Avon and Somerset Police became the first UK force to launch an advocacy service for victims and witnesses of sexual misconduct within the workplace; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to Vicki Moore, the force’s first Sexual Misconduct Liaison Officer, about the support that will be available to those reporting misconduct, the benefits to public trust and confidence, and the potential to expand the service to more issues.

OPINION: Martin Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive of Content Guru, reflects on the forthcoming local and national elections, which will have a profound effect on policing, arguing that for policing to transform, it needs to look forward as well as back – and that investment in people will not deliver the change that is required unless it is matched by investment in technology.

FEATURE: In a speech at a recent Staffordshire University conference on police leadership, former West Midlands Police Chief Constable Sir Dave Thompson called for a “simplified” mission for local forces, with some functions and technologies taken out of local level to reduce “wasted money” and make policing fit for the future, as Policing Insight’s James Sweetland reports.

INNOVATION: In the search to find the ultimate lightweight, flexible yet bullet resistant body armour, scientists are now turning to spider silk; but Manchester Metropolitan University Professor Lloyd Strickland says this apparently cutting-edge approach is nothing new, having first been identified by a pioneering philosopher more than 300 years ago.

INNOVATION: Student officers at the Akademie der Polizei Hamburg have become the latest to use virtual reality technology to gain a greater insight and understanding of hate crime, following the success of a similar initiative in Greater Manchester Police (GMP); the Akademie is now looking to incorporate VR more widely in its training and hopes to work more closely with GMP, as Professor Dr Eva Groß told Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

FEATURE: A custody navigator programme which works with young people in Cleveland to break the cycle of offending has been expanded to the region’s main hospital in an effort to work with victims of violence related to alcohol or substance abuse, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ANALYSIS: As part of his speech to the recent Milpol Asia-Pacific Conference in Singapore, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram highlighted the potential that artificial intelligence offers his force and others in detecting and disrupting criminal activities and responding to crises.

INNOVATION: With policing coming under growing pressure to leverage the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), Assistant Professor Dr Eric Halford, a former officer and now Associate Researcher in policing and development, explores the potential for police forces to improve efficiency and effectiveness through greater use of general purpose AI, as well as the associated challenges, and the pitfalls to avoid.