UK Policing Conference, September 2013

On September 23 & 24, 2013 the UK Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is hosting an 'Excellence in Policing' conference around the theme: "Missing the Targets?...Let's Remember the Point." This event will take place in Ryton-on-Dunsmore and represents a gathering which should prompt Canadian police leaders to wish to be sent to Coventry.

Specific details on this event, and related initiatives sponsored by the ACPO and Excellence in Policing may be found at:

http://www.excellenceinpolicing.org.uk/

What is fascinating about this particular ACPO conference is that it maps out an approach to grappling with the present challenges of modern policing in a forthright and highly collaborative manner. The first day begins with an articulation of various insights and expectations that relate to policing in the UK from key vantage points, including: the Minister of State for Policing & Criminal Justice; Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC); the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners Board, and the ACPO. Of course, there is nothing new about having key stakeholders involved in such high-level gatherings to speculate on the future of policing. What makes this planned event important is the substantial nature of the themes and elements outlined for participants.

The following topics are on the Agenda for the 'Current & Future Demands' portion of this conference:

• Changing nature of demand;
• The financial outlook & what it means;
• Horizon scanning;
• Mutual gain: the case for active citizenship;
• Cybercrime & cyber-policing;
• Demand resulting from mental ill-health & dementia;
• Integrating evidence-based practice & performance management;
• Freeing up police time; and
• Matching resources to demand: new ideas for workforce planning

Under the Theme 'Models & Methods of Service Delivery' there are several important discussions planned:

• There is no one policing model any more...there are lots of them;
• A review of force and Commissioners' perspectives on police-private sector partnerships;
• commissioning police services;
• Integrated service delivery: making it work;
• Public-private partnership: a case study;
• Issues from HMIC's Valuing the Police

The second day (September 24th) includes two themes that should generate both good discussion and significant insights:

Theme 3: Is It Working?

1. Performance Management Business Area (PMBA) commission on performance;
2. The transparency agenda;
3. HMIC oversight & PMBA ForceSight;
4. Insights into working behaviours;
5. The state and status of user satisfaction surveys;
6. Evidence: where is it? what is it?

Theme 4: Leading into the Future

1. Digital pathfinders: creative use of digital data;
2. Corruption: what it is and how to tackle it;
3. Why middle leaders matter;
4. The future senior leaders, including direct entry;
5. Fostering innovation;
6. Social media: what leaders need to do

During the recent (January 2013) National Summit on the Economics of Policing, hosted by Public Safety Canada in Ottawa there were several keynote speakers from the UK who spoke about the experiences of their police organzations in the face of the pressing fiscal realities that are pressing upon all public services. These representatives were articulate, action-oriented, and accomplished in their approach to these challenges. There are many talented police leaders in Canada who are increasingly alive to the notion that fundamental change is warranted in our predominant policing model. They are beginning to take what may be termed an architectonic view of (post) modern policing and understand that new modes and orders will be necessary if our country's policing is to be sustainable. It is encouraging that the UK has taken steps toward a future vision of policing that departs from the status quo. It is highly appropriate for Canadian police leaders, academics, and policy-makers to look to these pioneering efforts.