Words from the editors
This edition comes at a decisive time in policing, with the publication of the long-anticipated Police Reform White Paper by the Home Office. A centralisation of technology services will inevitably include a consolidated science function for policing. How academia, industry, government and forces engage with policing’s science and technology may change, with a national structure to drive the implementation of new research and technology for all forces. I anticipate future issues of the magazine will feature developments in the thinking around Reform, and how that impacts the shape of the Police S&T system.
In this edition, we put that future to one side and turn attention to two substantial areas of focus: tackling VAWG and forensics.
The segment on “Science and Technology Interventions to Tackling VAWG” was inspired by the renewed dedication in combatting this pervasive problem in our society. Maintaining this momentum is crucial, and as the Angiolini Enquiry reports, one way to improve our response to VAWG is improved coordination and the scaling up of initiatives from local to national. The examples of S&T interventions which combat VAWG in this piece are by no means an exhaustive list, but they do cover an interesting mix of legislation, academic research, national programmes and local pilots. My hope is that colleagues will identify and bring into their force one new initiative from this piece.
The second area of focus is Forensics – a topic which draws in an endless number of scientific disciplines. It is an exciting time, with advancements that could provide forensics with a leap forward in available technologies and methodologies for practitioners. The use of Natural Language Processing models in digital forensics is one example, along with the more unorthodox initiatives such as NOS.E, an electronic chemical sensing alternative to cadaver dogs.
My sincere thanks to Shelley Wilson from the Forensic Capability Network, and Carolyn Lovell from the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser for their generosity in sharing the depth and breadth of their expertise in this fascinating field.
Beyond the issue’s areas of focus, you will find a demonstration of the progressive approach forces are taking to S&T. For example, North Wales has pioneered the use of quantum annealing to optimise forward deployment of emergency response vehicles in a vast and rural part of the country, where half a million residents live in remote communities. We hope to highlight future regional focused S&T in upcoming editions and invite forces to contact us with details of their initiatives, whether they proved successful or not.
This magazine recently celebrated a bronze British Interactive Media Association Award (BIMA) for the Innovative Use of Content – an achievement that has only been possible through the Four Communications team, with a special thanks to Anne Clarke, Russell Stearman, Namwan Day and Ece de Waal. And finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the contributors and interviewees for this edition.
