Latest figures from UK national counter terrorism policing show that women and girls  are continuing to travel to Syria. The UK police service and partners are today (Tuesday 12th January) launching a new film urging mothers to prevent further tragedies.

With the number crimes associated with online dating apps and websites increasing, users are urged to be as security conscious as possible and report any offences if they become a victim of this type of crime.

A number of forces are conducting trials to assess whether the use of drones can bring benefits to the provision of the police service. Any use would need to comply with existing Civil Aviation Authority Regulations.

The National Police Chiefs' Council are delighted to congratulate all those honoured in the 2016 New Years' Honours List.

Following a significant increase in Prevent referrals, as outlined in today's Times article, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Prevent, Chief Constable Simon Cole, outlines how police continue to be a trusted agency for reporting concerns about radicalisation.

National Police Chiefs' Council Chair, Sara Thornton, has written a blog reflecting on the NPCC's first year and the challenges and opportunities facing the police service in the year ahead.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of Constabulary report on the effect digital technology is having on crime and policing to ensure victims of these crimes get the best possible service.

The Prime Minister has announced a review of the legal protection afforded to armed police officers when they have been required to make a split second decision on the use of lethal force.  NPCC lead for armed policing says that they should be held accountable for their actions but that the process should be fair and expeditious.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Sara Thornton, & NPCC Lead for Armed Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, said:

Public guidance for firearms and weapons attacks released.

The Policing Minister has today confirmed the provisional police funding formula 2016/17.  NPCC says that the reduction in budget is significantly lower than we’d been expecting but that we remain committed to reform and forces will still have to find savings

Trafficking and slavery is a hidden crime that targets the most vulnerable in our society. Police forces will continue to work hard to protect victims and prosecute offenders.

Responding to the report, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the Homicide Working Group, Chief Constable David Crompton, said:

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s report on domestic abuse shows that the crime is increasingly becoming ‘everyone’s business’ following improvements to the service provided to victims.  NPCC says there’s further to go and that police will act on HMIC’s recommendations

We were asked for NPCC views about various aspects of ANPRs, including how the police use the data. NPCC lead on Automated Number Plate Recognition, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy, said:

The NPCC has today responded to the Home Affairs Committee Report, Reform of the Police Funding Formula.

Greater levels of coordinated proactive working between police forces and the NCA has identified nearly 700 potential online child abuse image offenders in recent months.

The UK Missing Persons Bureau's annual data reports for missing episodes offer forces preliminary analysis into the scale of missing people within the UK.

We were asked for the NPCC view on whether special constables should be able to progress through the ranks in the same way as regular officers. NPCC Workforce Lead, Chief Constable Giles York, has commented.

Following Irene Curtis's review on the use of targets in policing, the NPCC has welcomed a departure from a purely target driven culture. We will continue to look at ourselves to ensure we are managing performance effectively.

The financial situation is better than we expected but that does not negate the need for change.   Today we're holding a summit with all chiefs and PCCs hosted by the Home Secretary to discuss how we develop specialist capabilities, like armed policing, cyber units or teams tackling serious organised crime, on a shared basis to save money and improve services to the public

NPCC response to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report “The Depths of dishonour: Hidden Voices and shameful crimes”.

The NPCC welcomes the consultation on new measures to better protect victims of stalking launched by the Government.

Despite long term falls in traditional crime types, there is growing evidence that crime has moved online.  The announcement of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) field trials highlighted the public’s experiences of cyber crimes and demonstrated how the use of new technology and the internet is changing the nature of crime in the UK.  ONS revealed that there were an estimated 5.1 million incidents of fraud, with 3.8 million adult victims in England and Wales. In addition to fraud, the ONS estimated there were 2.5 million incidents of crime falling under the Computer Misuse Act. The most common incidents involved the victim’s computer or other devices being infected by a virus; it also included incidents where the victim’s email or social media accounts had been hacked.

A National Police Chiefs’ Council profile of commercial cannabis cultivation in the UK shows the illicit industry has maintained its links to organised crime with vulnerable people being exploited.

As Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) releases an assessment of Regional Organised Crime Units, the NPCC is starting a programme to develop specialist capabilities on a shared basis and next week we be holding a summit work through these issues with all chiefs, Police and Crime Commissioners and the Home Secretary

Today marks the launch of the National Police Chiefs’ Council drink and drug driving campaign that will see officers across the country out in force to keep the roads safe for everyone this Christmas. Thousands of tests will take place at all times of the day and night to catch those who pose a huge risk to themselves and other road users.

Leaders from the police, council and other organisations have gathered from across the country to help improve the lives of thousands of children in the UK

We are delighted on behalf of the public with the announcement made by the Chancellor that police budgets will not be cut over the course of this Parliament.

A very warm welcome to all conference delegates, to my colleagues, to the Police and Crime Commissioners, to our partners in industry, our media guests and all those who care enough about policing to commit the next two days to our conference. The challenges facing policing are daunting.  We need the collective wisdom of this broad group if we are going to tackle them effectively.

National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation, Simon Bailey says police have been dealing with the 'tip of the iceberg'