Policing Insight

Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons explores Ontario’s Mental Health Crisis Response (MHCR) programme, a virtual reality training model being rolled out to all officers across the province which research suggest can help to de-escalate those mental health crisis interventions, reduce the police use of force, and improve public trusts and confidence in law enforcement. ❝Evaluation of the MHCR programme revealed it demonstrated improvements in officers’ de-escalation techniques, confidence, empathy, and bias reduction.❞ ❝MHCR marks a transformative shift in how police officers are trained to support individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. As a first-of-its-kind initiative, it highlights the essential role of collaboration between policing and academia.❞ - Michael S. Kerzner, Ontario Solicitor General ❝Often police are training with the same trainers and so they get to know them. But with actors, what’s important is that they’re embodying very authentic symptoms of mental health crisis.❞ - Dr Jennifer A. A. Lavoie, MHCR programme founder ❝Police officers are not medical professionals and cannot diagnose illness; yet it is essential that officers be able to identify cues of mental health crisis to accurately assess risk, avoid unnecessary escalations, and engage in de-escalation efforts when viable.❞ - De-escalating Persons in Crisis Competencies Tool (DePICT) research paper ❝The standardization of de-escalation competencies contributes to a more consistent quality of police service across communities. To move forward, police governance at the highest levels must champion the priority of de-escalation in police-public interactions.❞ - De-escalating Persons in Crisis Competencies Tool (DePICT) research paper [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/eeVeYNxK

The UK Government’s recent white paper on police reform contained a wide range of ambitious proposals for the future shape of policing; but Dale Peters, Senior Research Director at TechMarketView, warns that unless digital, data and technology developments are an integral part of that reform – rather than a separate workstream – a huge opportunity to structure and equip policing for the years ahead will be lost. ❝Digital, data and technology feature prominently but are treated as a parallel workstream rather than an integrated design principle. This is a missed opportunity.❞ ❝The radical reforms must not be allowed to stand in the way of what is achievable during this Parliament; rebuilding public trust in policing depends on its success.❞ ❝Too often AI is being seen by the Government as a panacea for the challenges facing the country. Police.AI will not succeed if there is insufficient focus on building the infrastructure and data foundations to support it.❞ ❝Policing needs a cross-force data sharing solution that relies on timely and accurate information to keep pace with criminality and improve the service it provides to the public.❞ ❝In many forces, the chief digital and information officer is not valued highly enough. In the private sector, the chief technology officer sits at the top table, helping guide strategy. In too many forces the IT function is seen as supportive rather than transformative.❞ ❝Forces should be mindful that convergence towards common platforms, while improving efficiency, risks creating monopolistic positions that enable vendor lock-in, reduce the diversity of the supplier base and increase exposure to geopolitical instability.❞ https://lnkd.in/eUh5Vxvk

Human trafficking and exploitation are challenges that law enforcement cannot “police your way out of”, warns UCL’s Ella Cockbain, Professor of Human Trafficking and Exploitation, with more focus on a public health approach, improved listening to the voices of victims and survivors, and a better understanding of what really works among the key steps to meeting those challenges, as Prof Cockbain explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons. ❝There are very few prosecutions, which speaks to the limits of criminal justice responses where, in light of ever-increasing identification of victims and survivors of trafficking, there is much more going on than is being prosecuted.❞ - Professor Ella Cockbain, UCL ❝There’s generally better recognition of labour exploitation than there used to be, but problems still persist. Likewise with child sexual exploitation – things have improved, but even recently I’ve still seen grim references to children described as ‘child prostitutes’.❞ - Professor Ella Cockbain, UCL ❝People are – understandably – worried that if you are picked up by the police, you don’t know if you will have your immigration status tracked and end up detained and deported, especially in the current political climate.❞  - Professor Ella Cockbain, UCL ❝It’s mind boggling when you think there’s hundreds of millions of pounds being spent around the world on interventions but we don’t know what’s actually effective.❞ - Professor Ella Cockbain, UCL [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/ekRkdNWV 💡 The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Transnational Serious & Organised Crime Conference, supported by Policing Insight as media partner, takes place in Canberra on 17-18 March; topics covered include firearms trafficking and organised crime, drug markets, wildlife trafficking, human trafficking and exploitation, and NFTs and money laundering. To view the full programme and register for the event, visit the AIC Conference website: https://lnkd.in/gmpC4ZEb

New South Wales Police recently announced a six-month trial of drones manufactured by Chinese company DJI; the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Dr John Coyne and James Corera argue that the trial raises broader questions about the risks associated with technologies owned, controlled or influenced by foreign entities, particularly around mission scope, data management, infrastructure connectivity and supply chain resilience. ❝Use of drones has become routine in modern policing, but in today’s contested technological environment such tools can bring strategic risks.❞ ❝The risk of operational compromise is higher, less tolerable and more important to manage if the equipment becomes embedded in operations involving foreign interference, espionage or transnational organised crime.❞ ❝In a security environment characterised by overlapping crises – cyber intrusions, foreign interference, transnational crime, natural disasters – technology decisions accumulate. A tactical capability choice can, over time, have strategic effects.❞ https://lnkd.in/e7JhYnte NSW Police Force

With the latest analyses by both the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) highlighting the continuing rise of drug misuse across the continent, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth explores the work of a new project that focuses on upskilling local police, city prevention services, and youth and social workers as part of a multi-stakeholder approach to tackling the impact of the drug misuse. ❝The UK has one of the highest rates of cocaine use globally, with an estimated annual consumption of 117 tonnes, and the EU acts as a transit and production hub.❞ ❝Addressing these issues is complicated by a fragmented operational landscape in which local authorities, law enforcement agencies, and social services often act in parallel rather than through co-ordinated approaches.❞ ❝While the complexity of the challenges to be overcome can be daunting, pragmatic and co-ordinated actions by local stakeholders joining forces can make a real difference and contribute to tangible solutions.❞ [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/eFSnbWFK

While charge rates are often taken as an indicator of a police force’s success in tackling crime, many stakeholders argue that out-of-court resolutions (OOCRs) can provide victims with meaningful justice while reducing the burden on the court system; Ella Thomson, Research and Policy Officer for Transform Justice, sets out the findings of the organisation’s recent research into police use of OOCRs, as well as three key practical takeaways that can help forces to improve and increase their use of the diversionary measures. ❝We found that some police forces are almost three times as likely to resolve crimes out of court than others. So what are these high-ranking forces doing differently? And are there lessons to be learned for other forces?❞ ❝Forces we spoke to said it was crucial to have a simple and streamlined out-of-court resolution process. One out-of-court lead told us it was single-handedly the most important factor for increasing use amongst frontline officers.❞ ❝In England and Wales there is currently a growing court backlog, which means it can take years for cases to be heard in court. Out-of-court leads argued that using more OOCRs could divert more cases from court and thus take the pressure off the court system.❞ ❝Some forces also ensured they had an in-person presence in police stations, to be on the ground with officers when they were deciding what to do.❞ https://lnkd.in/ehxyaKrh

As the dust begins to settle on the proposals laid out in the UK Government’s recent white paper on police reform, Policing Insight’s Ian Wiggett takes a closer look at the plans, exploring among other things the challenges around force mergers, the creation of a new national police service and the changing constitutional relationship between policing and government, and considers whether the suggested reforms laid out in the paper are simply too radical and too ambitious. ❝The white paper is also ambitious in the breadth of change. It reads like a patchwork quilt of wish lists compiled from separate contribution teams. It’s difficult to absorb it all.❞ ❝There are currently four chief constables (or equivalents) in these [national] functions, plus numerous chief officer ranks. The [National Police Service] headcount is likely to number at least 14,000, absorbing perhaps a quarter of the Home Office’s budget for policing – and more if new capabilities are to be developed.❞ ❝Chief constables have long cherished their operational independence and jurisdictional responsibility, with accountability historically to the law. It’s been chipped away over recent decades, and is now being re-written.❞ ❝Large scale mergers seem unlikely before 2028, but should follow during the next decade. However, that is a long time away, politically. Opposition is already building against regional forces, and we can expect that to strengthen once recommendations are announced.❞ ❝With no new money, an LPA [local policing areas] may not be as local as envisaged. LPAs may not be possible until the regional tier is established, while a standardised model may not suit everywhere.❞ ❝The aim of alignment with local government is to enable joined-up planning and problem solving. This is not set out as an explicit requirement, however. Councils have their own challenges already and may not welcome extra responsibilities with further budget challenges.❞ ❝After continued scandals over recent years, it’s no surprise that the Home Secretary believes it necessary to drive culture change, however the sense is of change being done to the workforce, rather than with them.❞ ❝The intent may be that the power to fire [chief constables] is used sparingly in the most serious cases. The tone of the white paper suggests a more activist intent, however. Without safeguards, political pressure may be difficult to resist.❞ ❝Change can also be too ambitious – too much, too fast. Forces have limited capacity to manage change. A lot is going to be asked of them and the workforce. There is a risk that not everything can be delivered, either on time, or at all, potentially undermining the overall ambition.❞ [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/eeJ6Cga8 💡 Read more articles in 'The reform of UK policing' series: https://lnkd.in/e2-P63kq

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Hertfordshire Constabulary Sergeant James Stopford, a full-time Police Federation of England and Wales representative, hopes a personal “passion project” to highlight the risks associated with gambling – which can have a devastating impact on those already affected by trauma – can help to raise awareness of the dangers among colleagues in his own force and others across the country, as he explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons. ❝It’s a massive risk to officers. We see a lot about drugs and alcohol and the effects they can have; there is a lot of focus, on that, but not on gambling, and I think that is such a risk.❞ - Sgt James Stopford, Hertfordshire Police Federation ❝Since raising awareness in force, I have had an officer approach me who went through an addiction some years ago. He is so happy someone is shining a light on this.❞ - Sgt James Stopford, Hertfordshire Police Federation ❝If my work can help one or two people it’s worth it. I’ve put a list of questions on the internet and the answers give a score. If it makes one person aware how close they are to crossing that line, then it’s done its job.❞ - Sgt James Stopford, Hertfordshire Police Federation ❝Gambling can contribute to a lot of wellbeing issues – it is trauma compounded.❞ - Sgt James Stopford, Hertfordshire Police Federation [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/e3Q9GgQy

A series of ‘Gold Standards’ published by the UK’s National Police Chaplaincy service designed to inspire forces “in their care for colleagues and positively impact communities” will mirror many of the aims of the recent police reform proposals in England and Wales, while also helping officers to cope with an emotional weight in modern policing “that is too heavy for many to bear”, as National Police Chaplain Reverend Matthew Hopley explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons. ❝Through advocacy and relationship-building, chaplains support policing initiatives and help foster positive connections with groups that policing has sometimes needed help to connect with.❞ - Gold Standards For Police Chaplaincy ❝Policing is all about people; we serve people, and as chaplains we are focused on the hearts of those who choose to serve and protect. Chaplaincy is positioned to reach both the organisational heart of policing and support the matters of the heart for those in the service.❞ - Rev Matthew Hopley ❝These developments reflect what chaplains witness daily: policing exposes individuals to repeated trauma and sustained pressure, and the quality of wellbeing support directly influences performance, culture, and the public service which is at the heart of policing.❞ - Rev Matthew Hopley ❝These are real people, with real pain, that need real support. The emotional weight of policing is becoming a weight that is too heavy for many to bear. Our chaplains are navigating these challenges alongside those who never expected that ‘the weight’ may become unbearable.❞ - Rev Matthew Hopley ❝As opportunities emerge, I encourage colleagues across all roles and ranks to step into the conversations available to them, recognising that each of us brings our own experiences and perceptions to moments of change.❞ - Rev Matthew Hopley [SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE] https://lnkd.in/eqXCnqTT