Sharing ideas and experiences

Welcome to the fourth issue of Going equipped. I am so pleased to see how the publication has developed and grown over the last two years. Written by policing for policing, it only works because police officers and staff across the country – in all roles and ranks – are taking the opportunity to write and review articles. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far, and if you have an idea for an article or would like to join our team of reviewers, please do get in touch at goingequipped@college.police.uk

This issue is as wide-ranging as ever. Have you heard about The Onion Router? If not, take a look at five things about the dark net. Do you want to know what it’s like to work in Prevent, as a negotiator or as a dog handler? Then there are first-hand accounts that will allow you to explore those worlds.

We have two long reads in this issue: one is on the risk perception of frontline operational officers, while the other looks at barriers to improving rape investigation and prosecution. This is a timely article, as all forces have recently produced their Violence Against Women and Girls action plans. The research highlights a number of issues, from investigation to prosecution, that need to be considered moving forward. This is a must-read for all those engaged in this important work.

Another article shares an innovative idea that reflects on trust and confidence in policing, suggesting that a complete cultural debrief takes place if an officer is dismissed, particularly if the disciplinary activity relates to misogyny and sexism. We also hear about using forensic markers to protect victims of domestic abuse. Creative ideas like these are exactly what we need to encourage and share as a service, in order to move forward and continually improve, which is a key aim of Going equipped.

Among the other fantastic articles are an excellent book review of ‘County Lines’ by Jason Farrell, a fascinating practice note on decoding gang-related drill music and a close look at the role of positive action in policing.

I hope that you find each of these articles interesting and informative. My thanks go to everyone who has contributed to this issue and to the College of Policing team, who work tirelessly to bring together such terrific content for us to read!