Policy and practice

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.

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.

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.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: The annual Professional Standards and Ethics Conference, supported by Policing Insight as media partner, will take place 27-28 November 2023 in Manchester. The theme for this year is 'improving police legitimacy by delivering on an enhanced ethical and professional standards framework'.

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.

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 Bill Wood, former Head of the UNODC Programme Office in North Macedonia and previously National Crime Agency Liaison Officer based in Belgrade, about international collaborative approaches to tackling drugs, the crime dangers of ‘post-conflict’ fallout in Ukraine and Russia, and the frustration of governments’ corruption and support of organised crime.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Join us in Manchester at the annual ANPR Conference 13-14 November supported by Policing Insight, with this year's focus on 'optimising capability'.

INTERVIEW: As the Chief of Winnipeg Police Service and President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Danny Smyth understands more than most about the challenges facing policing and police leadership in Canada and beyond; and as he explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, building community relationships, ensuring the wellbeing of officers, and preparing the next generation of leaders will all be vital to meeting those challenges.

INTERVIEW: In the latest in a series of articles focusing on last month’s UK Police Digital Summit, Policing Insight’s Graham Jarvis spoke to Dr Nicola Millard, Principal Innovation Partner and BT Business Chief Technology Officer, about the importance of people-centred innovation, the need to recognise ‘easy’ as a driver for technological change, and the potential for mixed reality to transform police responses to major critical incidents.

FEATURE: The suicides of four Tasmania Police officers have prompted a range of recommendations from a coroner who highlighted concerns around the force’s approach to fatigue management and post-traumatic stress; Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons looks at the inquest findings into the tragic deaths of the four officers, and spoke to Tasmania Commissioner Donna Adams about the steps the force has already taken to address some of the issues.

OPINION: The recent killing of London schoolgirl Elianne Andam, who died after being stabbed on a Croydon street while on her way to school, has once again prompted lengthy debate around knife crime; former police officer Oliver Laurence, who grew up in Croydon, shares his thoughts on what can be done to tackle the crisis – including listening to the views of those with first-hand experience of knife crime in their community, such as AJ Wright.

ANALYSIS: Deploying ‘mixed’ squads consisting of police officers and healthcare or social workers is an approach that has been used in responding to the homeless and those in mental health crises in a number of countries; but new Canadian research by Concordia University Professor Ted Rutland and Karl Beaulieu, Université du Québec à Montréal PhD researcher, suggest that in the case of ‘unhoused people’, far from improving the situation it’s an approach that is creating more harm.

ANALYSIS: With the complex digital underground increasingly offering ‘crime as a service’ facilities to both traditional organised crime groups and cybercriminals, understanding how the approach works is essential for law enforcement; Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth looks at the latest information from Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), and new research funding that could help police organised crime investigators, analysts and experts tackle the problem.