Mandatory police training: the epitome of dissatisfaction and demotivation?

This article reports on a piece of survey research completed by 809 police officers of a Federated Rank in England and Wales. The survey examined the attitudes of the officers with regards to the provision of ongoing training within the police service and their motivation to undertake it, with a particular emphasis on training delivered by e-learning on the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies platform. The results are discussed through the theoretical framework of andragogy (adult education theory) and self-determination theory with recommendations for improvement made based on these results

Electronic assessment of the PCDA: from Covid contingency to best practice

A study into the use of electronic assessment on a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) programme due to Covid Lockdown, and how it became standard practice

Evidence-based policing: using evidence and research to improve policing practice

This article appeared in the "Ethical Record" the journal of the Conway Hall Ethical Society following a talk on the subject which took place at their Thinking On Sunday series of Events on 14th January 2016. It outlines the concept of Evidence-Based Policing to a non-specialist audience. It defines the concpet and outlines why it is required within contemporary policing as a facet of police professionalism

The mandatory delivery of ongoing training within the Police Service of England and Wales and its relationship to the andragogical principle of self-motivation

Ongoing training of serving officers in the Police Service of England and Wales is an important function of the organisation. It is necessary to maintain competence of officers and prevent failures of the organisation for which it could be liable. The Theory of Andragogy is the major theory of adult education and its principles include that organisations should encourage individual self-motivation to promote effective learning. This thesis was intended to be a mixed methods empirical study combining a staff attitude survey and focus group data to examine the extent police ongoing training fulfils this principle. However due to participation issues the qualitative phase was unable to provide firm conclusions, but does provide us with potential hypotheses for further research. The survey suggests that current training provision does not appear to take the andragogical principle of self-motivation into account and this is detrimental to the effectiveness of the training. Whilst we can show that making training mandatory does not promote (and may undermine self-motivation), there may also be other factors involved. The research also suggests that this deficiency is exacerbated by the predominance of e-learning courses. Suggestions to improve motivation to train by embracing andragogical principles are made

A brief history of primate research: Global health improvements and ethical challenges

Humans have benefitted from close relationships with animals for hundreds of thousands of years. However it has only been in relatively recent times that they have made use of the scientific investigation of animals; their anatomy, physiology and response to disease in attempts to alleviate human suffering. Scientists rapidly realized the value of primates as research models – their evolutionary proximity to humans making them better predictors, or models, of human biology. Systematic studies using primates began in the last century and massive demand for research subjects almost caused the extinction of some important wild populations. This resulted in initially ex situ and then latterly in situ breeding centers, purpose-breeding animals for biomedical research. Primate research typically follows that using less sentient animals (generally rodents) in which mechanism and proof of principle are established before examining effect and safety in primates. The quality of life of millions of people has rested on progress from primate research. The broader society has become more concerned with how we treat animals and use of animals in research has come under particular scrutiny. The actions of extremists have threatened not only the continued use of primates in research, but also the property, welfare, and occasionally, lives of those that have committed their careers to studying primates to aid humanity. This commentary examines the history of primate research and discusses key advances as well as important lessons learnt about the ethics surrounding the use of primates in research.KEY WORDS: Primate research; Biomedical research; Ethical challenges; Primate welfare; Translational research; Health benefit

Precision measurement of magnetic characteristics of an article with nullification of external magnetic fields

An apparatus for characterizing the magnetic field of a device under test is discussed. The apparatus is comprised of five separate devices: (1) a device for nullifying the ambient magnetic fields in a test environment area with a constant applied magnetic field; (2) a device for rotating the device under test in the test environment area; (3) a device for sensing the magnetic field (to obtain a profile of the magnetic field) at a sensor location which is along the circumference of rotation; (4) a memory for storing the profiles; and (5) a processor coupled to the memory for characterizing the magnetic field of the device from the magnetic field profiles thus obtained

Against Animated Documentary?

Animated documentaries have been written about in a mostly positive way that explores the way the form enhances and expands the documentary agenda. This is true of scholarly and academic writing as well as that in the popular press and film reviews. However, some authors have taken issue with the ascription of the term ‘documentary’ to animated documentaries. In addition, there are potential issues regarding audience response to animated documentaries and the technical proficiency of the films themselves as they become more ubiquitous. This chapter explores the existing, and potential objections to and criticisms of animated documentary and suggests that a more ‘360-degree’ discussion of the form will enrich the scholarly discourse on animated documentary