People development

INTERVIEW: After a 30-year career which saw her rise to the top of the Aurora Illinois Police Department, former chief Kristen Ziman retired in 2021 and found herself facing a difficult transition; 18 months on, with her first book published, and putting her specialist interests in counter-terrorism and gun violence to good use, she’s not ready to give up making a positive difference just yet, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

FEATURE: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last week unveiled the outlines of a turnaround plan for the force based on “precise community crime fighting”, a new performance framework and new professional values; but just days after the ambitious plan was announced, the force was facing fresh controversy with the conviction of serial rapist PC David Carrick highlighting concerns over vetting, conduct and complaints, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

OPINION: The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) has been at the forefront of identifying new and ongoing challenges for law enforcement, as well as the tools, techniques and guidance required to enable officers to meet them; ANZPAA CEO Dr Tracey Green outlines some of the key issues policing will be facing over 2023, and how the Agency is working with practitioners, stakeholders and others to deliver solutions.

OPINION: The last 12 months have been tumultuous for policing in England and Wales, so what challenges will law enforcement face in 2023? Police Foundation Director Rick Muir explores the key issues for policing in the year ahead, including recruitment and retention, reviews and reform, and the potential impact of politics and new legislation.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: In February 2023, Victoria Police will be hosting the 2023 World LGBTIQ+ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals in Melbourne, Australia. Better Together is the theme for the Melbourne conference supported by Policing Insight as media partner.

OPINION: Changes introduced under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act will see the province’s Office of the Independent Police Review Director investigating complaints only against high-ranking officers and those “in the public interest”, with others referred back to the relevant forces; York University PhD Candidate Monika Lemke believes the increased lack of transparency and shrinking role of independent oversight will erode public trust in the system.

OPINION: The creation of a new Australian cybercrime taskforce following the huge Optus and Medibank data breaches is an encouraging step by government; but Magnet Forensics founder and Chief Technology Officer Jad Saliba, and Vice-President Neil Desai, argue that without a co-ordinated strategy, increased police training and investment in tools and techniques to support it, Australians will still be left vulnerable to further cyber attacks.

END OF YEAR REVIEW: As 2022 draws to a close, Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter looks back over some of the key law enforcement themes covered over the past 12 months, the challenges met and opportunities offered, and our continuing commitment to provide a platform for sharing expertise, understanding and best practice throughout 2023.

ANALYSIS: The pandemic presented new challenges for policing across the world, along with valuable lessons around the response; latest research by Dr Manja Nikolovska and Professor Shane D Johnson of the Dawes Centre for Future Crime at UCL reveals what law enforcement stakeholders thought worked well in relation to Covid-19 (and what didn’t), and how these might shape the response to future threats such as climate change and the technological advances of crime.

OPINION: New research by Dr Kate Puddister, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, and Queen’s University doctoral candidate Danielle McNabb, suggest that not only is sexual violence by police officers in Canada more common than expected, but that allegations of sexual assault against officers are less likely to be fully investigated, or lead to charges or convictions, than other such assaults reported to police.

INTERVIEW: Metropolitan Police Commander Dr Alison Heydari is the UK’s most senior black female officer, leading for the force on neighbourhood policing and nationally on out-of-court disposals; in the first in a two-part interview, she spoke to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons about the importance for leaders of listening to staff, the need to recognise and praise work done well, and the vital role of resilience in coping with change.

FEATURE: While many law enforcement organisations around the world are facing challenges over legitimacy and community confidence, a new survey of Ireland’s An Garda Síochána has revealed increased public trust levels in the force of more than 90%, and a widespread belief that the organisation is well-managed and effective at tackling crime, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: With his first three months in the UK’s most high-profile policing job now complete, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has been clear about his efforts to improve the force and root out corruption; Policing Lecturer and historian Tom Andrews believes the current Commissioner can draw on the example of a famous predecessor and namesake, Sir Robert Mark.

ANALYSIS: Transform Justice Research and Policy Lead Fionnuala Ratcliffe examines research carried out by serving Police Sergeant Dr Lee Johnson into the nature and extent of the police ‘bravado’ culture.

LONG READ: With just one per cent of cases making it to court and convictions at a historic low, some believe the crime of rape has effectively been decriminalised. Dr John Fox, a lecturer in Police Studies at the University of Portsmouth, analyses the reasons why so few cases result in a conviction.

ANALYSIS: As many as one in five of the population are estimated to be neurodivergent, a term covering more than 600 conditions; Sarah Gardner looks at some of the key challenges this presents for policing, both in terms of recruiting and supporting neurodiverse colleagues, and understanding how those conditions can affect interactions with the public.

FEATURE: Continuing the latest series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the issue of plurality in policing, from the earliest days of the ‘New Police’ to the latest law enforcement and social control roles carried out by the state as well as private and third-sector organisations, and underlines the importance for policing of recognising the opportunities and dangers presented by non-police actors.

OPINION: In his last article before retiring from Sussex Police (and from his role as President of the Disabled Police Association) next month, Superintendent Simon Nelson urges colleagues to continue supporting diversity in policing and fulfil the potential of creating a better history for others.

OPINION: As the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, Association President Paul Fotheringham looks back at how the organisation was formed, its efforts to be a positive voice in support of its members over the past seven decades, and the challenges it continues to face today and into the future.

OPINION: The recent Inspectorate report of police forces in England and Wales highlighted further concerns around vetting, misconduct and misogyny, focusing much of the blame on vetting teams and professional standards departments; but Dr John McDaniel, Senior Lecturer in Policing and Criminal Justice at the University of Wolverhampton, argues that a political tolerance to misconduct and misogyny, and a lack of action by police and crime commissioners, have contributed significantly to the problem.

FEATURE: Leading police researcher Professor Tom Kirchmaier recently urged police chiefs to “rethink” their stance on double crewing to protect officers and provide a better public service, while improving response times to have a “significant” impact on detection and clearance rates, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

INTERVIEW: Challenges around recruitment and workforce strength are affecting policing around the world, but there’s often less focus on keeping hold of good officers; Greater Manchester Police Chief Inspector Mike Russell spoke to Policing Insight’s Keith Potter about the force’s new ‘Stay Interview’ initiative which has significantly improved retention rates as well as improving the support available to officers.

ANALYSIS: This month’s report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services highlighted significant issues around the vetting of police officers – both new recruits and those already in service; as HMICFRS begins publishing individual force inspections on the same topic, Policing Insight’s Graham Wettone looks at the concerns highlighted by the original report, the recommendations for improvement, and what the service should be doing to protect policing and the public against potential misconduct and corruption.

OPINION: A series of high-profile cases in the UK have highlighted issues around the disproportionate use of force and stop and search, and the impact on confidence in policing among many in black communities; Dr Clare Torrible, Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Bristol, believes a recent Court of Appeal ruling around reasonable use of force by officers could be crucial in restoring that confidence.