Technology/equipment/services

FEATURE: Environmental crimes such as large-scale dumping, illegal waste sites, and illegal export of waste have become one of the fastest growth areas for organised crime groups; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth explores the scale of the problem, and efforts by countries across Europe to tackle the threat using the latest technologies including artificial intelligence.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: CTX – The Counter Terror Expo returns to ExCeL London on 19th & 20th June to unite professionals from industry, infrastructure, government and policing to explore the latest counter-terrorism technologies and solutions. The event encourages the development of new ideas and discussion of innovative strategies to combat the latest threats facing the UK and its partners.

OPINION: The pro-Palestinian demonstrations on university campuses in the US and around the world have prompted fresh debates around policing, public order and people’s right to protest; Jess Reia, Assistant Professor of Data Science at the University of Virginia, argues that decisions over what constitutes urban disorder often target the most disadvantaged communities, and that deploying big data under the guise of enforcing public order can backfire.

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 implications of synthetic identities, how they can be adopted and exploited for criminal use, and the strategies law enforcement needs to put in place to combat them.

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.

OPINION: Police in Scotland were among the frontrunners on officer safety training and de-escalation techniques, prompted in part by the tragic on-duty murder of PC Lewis Fulton almost 30 years ago; but Michael Greville, a former long-serving officer who played a key role in developing the officer training programme, believes Police Scotland needs to address a significant gap between training and operational application that leaves officers and the public at risk.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: In the ever-evolving world of law enforcement, staying one step ahead is critical. The ability to expect, rather than merely react, is what often tilts the balance in solving cases. This paradigm shift is feasible with sophisticated intelligence software like HUME.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Join us for a series of forums in New Zealand and across Australia from 11th to 20th June, sharing the journey of a range of forces and other law enforcement agencies and their adoption of NICE Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS). The sessions will be invaluable to police forces in Australia and New Zealand as they plan to introduce the system.

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.

INNOVATION: In the latest in a series of articles exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in policing, Chief Philip Lukens explores the potentially revolutionary benefits of AI X-ray vision in police searches and emergency rescue and recovery operations, as well as the technical, legal and ethical challenges that the use of such technology could bring.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: JUST 6 DAYS TO GO! Are you really prepared to maximise all the benefits that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring to the delivery of criminal justice whilst at the same time prepared to mitigate any risks? This global webinar series, organised by PolicingTV and Policing Insight, will bring together from the law enforcement community and the wider criminal justice system, leaders, technologists, academics, and suppliers to consider the opportunities, and risks posed by AI.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: As generative AI bursts onto the scene, it promises to transform people’s personal and professional lives forever. It could hold the key to police forces operating more effectively – but it’s also already being used by criminals for nefarious purposes. UK forces must consider: How can they harness GenAI while preventing its misuse?

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.

ANALYSIS: In the latest in a series of articles exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in policing, Chief Philip Lukens compares the related but distinct fields of biometrics and facial recognition, and explores how biometric technologies can enhance facial recognition systems and improve accuracy and security.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Join our free webinar on 7th May, to learn how modern platforms and AI can be leveraged to modernise the management of information, deliver improved operational insights and enhance policing outcomes.