In this edition of World Policing Weekly, Bernard Rix and Ian Wiggett look at another varied week in policing, from a critical cultural review of New South Wales Police to the growing use — and risks — of facial recognition and AI. The discussion also explores how artificial intelligence could support police call handlers, why human judgement still matters, and what a small Florida town’s decision to dissolve its police department says about the wider debate over policing structures and costs.
The episode then turns to police leadership and accountability in England and Wales, with chief constables becoming increasingly vocal on major political and criminal justice issues. With police reform gathering pace and the possibility of reducing the number of forces from 43 to around a dozen, Bernard and Ian consider what that could mean for the future influence of chief constables, local accountability and even the future of the City of London Police.
References
- https://www.thetimes.com/article/012599a3-dd86-493a-9280-741124f448b2?shareToken=7b8fa41a19390985dc252a13d290e6df
- https://www.thetimes.com/article/e36a9c75-ff3a-4f94-bf6c-fe88ff548ea3?shareToken=7aa776be353b440f660fb37c6ad4a8a9
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4418808.stm
- could-virtual-reality-be-an-antidote-to-the-blue-code-of-protective-silence
- call-handlers-cognitive-expertise-shows-importance-of-using-ai-and-tech-to-augment-rather-than-replace-humans
- cultural-review-of-nsw-police-highlights-a-toxic-culture-including-bullying-harassment-and-discrimination
- supermarket-giants-trial-facial-recognition-technology-2026
- policing-cyprus-in-a-time-of-global-tension
- absolutely-manic-hot-weather-puts-unprecedented-pressure-on-greater-manchester-police
- covert-filming-the-hundreds-of-unknown-victims-that-cant-be-identified-by-police
- m9-crash-kildare-micheal-martin
- https://www.echolive.ie/nationalnews/arid-41896246.html
- fla-town-to-dissolve-police-department-due-to-budget-concerns
Key takeaways
- A major review of New South Wales Police has identified serious concerns around bullying, discrimination and toxic workplace culture.
- Facial recognition can help tackle retail crime, but recent mistakes show how important human oversight remains.
- Research into police call handling suggests AI should support experienced staff rather than replace their judgement.
- A small Florida town is dissolving its police department because of budget pressures and relying instead on the county sheriff.
- The case highlights a wider international debate about whether small police forces can remain financially and operationally sustainable.
- Chief constables in England and Wales appear increasingly willing to speak publicly on major criminal justice and political issues.
- Possible police force mergers could create a much smaller group of far more visible and influential chief constables.
- The future of smaller forces, including the City of London Police, could become a major issue as police reform develops.
Chapters
00:58 – Toxic culture in New South Wales Police
03:59 – Facial recognition and the risk of getting it wrong
07:38 – Should AI support or replace police call handlers?
11:18 – The Florida town dissolving its police department
15:18 – When policing becomes a public political debate
20:00 – Are chief constables becoming more powerful?
24:32 – What happens to smaller police forces?
26:06 – Could the City of London Police disappear?
📌 Subscribe for more leadership conversations from inside and beyond policing
#PoliceReform #PoliceLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #FacialRecognition #PoliceCulture #PoliceAccountability #CityOfLondonPolice #GlobalPolicing
We have launched a YouTube channel where you can also view our videos – just click here and please like and subscribe PTV Youtube
PolicingTV content is being brought to you in partnership with Kodex & World Policing Advisory
Kodex revolutionises the way organisations manage sensitive data requests from law enforcement and government agencies, transforming a traditionally complex process into a secure, streamlined workflow that ensures compliance, enhances security, and reduces operational costs.
Trusted by over 90,000 government agents and industry leaders like Binance, Airbnb, Match Group, and LinkedIn, Kodex sets the industry standard for secure data exchange — powered by a global intelligence network and advanced threat detection capabilities.
To learn more about Kodex, click here – If you are part of a government agency and need to create an account, click here
World Policing Advisory is a global consultancy specialising in the future of policing and public safety. We offer global policing expertise, delivered locally through a model focused on consulting with conscience.
Our teams have direct experience of strategic and tactical policing and private sector leadership, blended with the globe’s best subject matter expertise to create high impact value for money services with in-year benefits.
For more information contact our Chairman, Bernard Rix ([email protected])