Policing and the public: Understanding public priorities, attitudes and expectations

The Police Foundation has published a new report focusing on public’s perceptions of and priorities for police service. It can be read in full here but some key insights include;

• Most people retain a positive opinion of the police service however support is not consistently distributed. Black Caribbean people in particular experience policing less positively
• The public have a ‘traditional’ view of the police role, the public want more visible policing. However they attached less importance to other features of neighbourhood policing such as reassurance or community building
• Reducing and responding to serious violence and sexual crimes are seen by the public as clear top priorities for today’s police service
• The importance of value alignment between the police and public is emphasised, both in terms of the procedural justice of specific encounters and the strategic priority choices communicated formally and through police activity

Source: The Police Foundation

Article on the use of RUI and bail

The BBC has published an article with figures from 20 police forces in England and Wales on the use of bail and released under investigation (RUI). The article was published alongside a report on BBC Newsnight.

The figures show that there were 322,250 RUI cases between April 2017 and October 2019. Of this number, 93,098 were related to serious violence against a person and sexual offences cases.

The article can be read in full here.

Source: BBC News

Consultation on strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments

The Home Office has begun a consultation regarding measures to criminalise the act of trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment in England and Wales.

The consultation is also asking for views on alternative approaches which include amending current powers under sections 61 and 62A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

The consultation closes on 4 March 2020 and can be read in full here.

Source: Gov.uk

Stop and Search ‘Section 60’ pilot: Equality Impact Assessments

The Home Office has published the Stop and Search ‘Section 60’ pilot: Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs). The EIAs gives the context, objectives and adverse impact mitigation of the relaxation of the Section 60 Stop and Search Powers, compared to current powers.

The purpose of the EIA is to assess the potential impact of proposed changes to S60 powers on people with protected characteristics. These proposed changes entail reducing the required level of certainty that an incident will occur from ‘will take place’ to ‘may take place’ and, lowering the rank of an authorising officer from superintendent or above to ‘senior officer’. These changes would bring the policy in line with the pre-Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme (BUSSS) legislation.

The EIA states that if s60 powers were relaxed, there is an increased risk of magnifying any residual levels of discrimination in the use of this power. However, it also states that there is no evidence to indicate whether disparity rates would increase or decrease.   

The EIA can be read in full here.

Source: Gov.uk

Home Secretary launches £25 million fund to prevent burglary and theft in crime hotspots

The Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced the Safer Streets Fund which will be used to tackle offences such as burglary and theft in crime hotspots. Bids for the funding can be made by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales.

To bid for funding PCCs must work with local authorities and other partners to develop crime prevention plans. These plans must be based on evidence that the funding is needed, the plans are value for money, and local communities are engaged.

The funding will be available from April 2020.

Source: Gov.uk

‘OK’ hand sign added to list of hate symbols

The ‘OK’ hand sign has been added to a list of hate symbols after its increased usage by extremist groups. The symbol is becoming commonly used by hate groups as a symbol of white supremacy.

The Anti-Defamation League has stated that whilst the majority of individuals who use the symbol do so to show approval, the public and law enforcement must be made aware of the increased usage by extremist groups.

Source: BBC News

Home Office encourages civil servants across government to volunteer with police

The government have announced that civil servants who want to volunteer as special constables will be able to take up to 12 paid special leave a year as part of an initiative by the Home Office.

There are 19 departments including the Cabinet Office and the Treasury who are increasing this dedicated leave for their staff.

Source: GOV.UK

New technology to detect knives in public places

The Home Office has announced a funded trial will take place in Stratford Station of new technology designed to safely detect weapons such as guns and knives. The technology, made by the British company Thruvision, can detect devices under clothing up to 30 feet.

The technology works by revealing objects concealed that block a person’s body heat. These objects can then be identified by police officers. The technology is already used on the Los Angeles Metro.

The trial, which will initially last for five days, will be run by the British Transport Police, with support from the Metropolitan Police.

Source: GOV.UK

Annual Violence against Women and Girls report

The CPS has published the Annual Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) report for 2018-19. The report focuses on crimes grouped together because they are committed primarily, though not exclusively, by men against women. However, the report notes that these offences can be targeted at men and boys and that crimes grouped as VAWG also apply to all victims.

The data included in the report is from the CPS Case Management System, CPS Witness Management System and its associated Management Information System. Key statistics in the report include a 15.1% fall in prosecutions and a 14.3% drop in convictions across the domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences caseload. The explanation for this is the 12.3% fall in the number of investigations referred to CPS, along with significant increases in the volume of digital data which is impacting on the time some cases are taking to charge.

This report will be the final annual report of this kind. From now on there will be quarterly data update reports. A brief summary of these updates will be published at the end of the financial year.

The Report can be read in full here.

Source: CPS

Home Secretary pledges boost for law and order

Home Secretary Priti Patel said in her first speech at the Police Superintendents’ Association that she is ‘ashamed’ by the lack of support police officers have received from previous governments.

In the speech, Ms Patel said that she would do ‘everything’ to ensure police officers had the ‘resources, the power and the authority’ to be able to conduct their jobs. The Home Secretary also spoke of longer jail sentences for those who attack the police. The speech comes alongside the announcement of the pledge to recruit 20,000 more officers over the next three years.

Source: GOV.UK, BBC News