Workforce & Leadership

AI and the Next Generation: Staying Aware and Safe

Technology changes rapidly, making it essential that we stay on top of online safety to keep the internet a safe and positive place for children. We recently hosted the Online Safety Conference 2026 and it was a massive success. We had over 100 people attend and a collection of brilliant speakers. One of these was Will Gardner OBE, the CEO of Childnet International with 26 years of experience at the children’s charity. He is also the co-director of the UK Safer Internet Centre. Will delivered an insightful keynote about protecting children and young people from online harm with a specific focus on children and Artificial Intelligence (AI). We’ve recapped his session below, believing that there’s a lot of value here.

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5 Challenges Public Sector Leaders Must Navigate in 2026

The public sector is undergoing fundamental change. Rising demand, workforce shortages, and rapid digital transformation are reshaping how organisations operate - and how they must evolve heading into the 2030s. Each of these challenges is an opportunity for organisations to evolve into more effective, innovative operations, leading to a healthier and more impactful public sector.

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Cyber Incident Exercising: Transform Your Response Strategy To Minimise Cyber Incidents

Jonathan Ellwood, Head of Cyber Incident Exercising and Cyber Incident Response for IASME, delivered a seminar on cyber incident exercising at The Public Sector Cyber Security Conference 2026 this February. Jonathan used his seminar session to highlight the benefits of cyber incident exercising - how it can transform the response strategy and actual implementation of a cyber response plan in organisations both big and small, resulting in a more effective and prepared operation, if an incident occurs.

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Discussing Cyber Security with the Detective Superintendent at the NPCC

The Public Sector Cyber Security Conference 2026 took place on Thursday 05 February at the QEII Centre in London and welcomed senior cyber, digital, security, risk and public service leaders from across government and wider national sectors to the QEII Centre in Westminster, London, for what proved to be our largest and most impactful event to date. “The event is always one of the most informative and useful conferences of the year. It has interesting speakers covering topics that are an issue today as well as topics that will be an issue to be addressed in the future.” - Crown Prosecution Service

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The Hidden Cost of Youth Violence: What Communities Lose When Young People Slip Through the Cracks

Youth violence is often discussed in moments of crisis. A headline. A police cordon. A court appearance. What’s rarely discussed is the costs this violence has on communities, individuals and economies. Behind every incident is usually a young person who didn’t suddenly 'go wrong', but gradually slipped through a series of cracks: in education, mental health support, youth services, housing, and community connection. The topics discussed in this article directly relate to the National Tackling Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime Conference 2026, which was held on the 29th January 2026.

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Mind in Motion: How Movement Transforms Mental Health at Work

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, conversations around mental health are no longer a luxury, they’re a necessity. At the forefront of this movement is Matt Balfour, a wellbeing content creator, public speaker, Samaritan volunteer, and the founder of Let’s Go Wellbeing. His mission is simple yet profound: to help organisations build healthier, more engaged workforces […]

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Driving Digital Evidence Innovation with the College of Policing

Unlike lawsuits 20 years ago, digital evidence appears in more than 90% of all crimes committed today. At our Digital Policing Conference 2024, Sarra Fotheringham, Policing Standards Manager for Digital and Cyber at the College of Policing, delivered a compelling session on the importance of workforce competencies in the digital evidence landscape.

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Protecting SMEs from Cybercrime: PCC Collaboration with the NEBRC

We welcomed Joy Allen, Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham, at the Digital Policing Conference 2024, who highlighted the pivotal role of collaborative efforts in protecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the growing threat of cybercrime. Her presentation focused on the innovative initiatives undertaken by the Northeast Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC), a key player within the National Cyber Resilience Centre network.

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The Growing Cyber Threat Landscape for UK Police Forces

Cybersecurity is a critical concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide. With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, the UK police have significantly enhanced their capabilities to combat cybercrime and ensure the safety of digital infrastructures. Police forces have been dealing with an estimated 7.78 million cybercrimes in the last year (GOV).

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The NCA’s Central Role in Fighting Cybercrime & Ransomware

Cybercrime has emerged as a Tier One national security threat, with ransomware identified as one of the most significant and pervasive dangers facing nations and organisations alike. The UK has seen a substantial rise in ransomware incidents, with recorded attacks increasing by 55% in 2023, and continuing into 2024. The majority of these attacks have targeted critical sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing, which have become prime targets due to their reliance on essential services​.

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Managing UK Police Finances Effectively: Current Budgets, Initiatives, and Grants

The funding of UK police forces is a multifaceted process involving central government grants, local funding from council tax, and other specific grants and funding streams. As of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the total funding for the police is projected to be around £15.8 billion. Effective budget management within the UK police forces is crucial to maintaining public safety and ensuring efficient use of taxpayer funds. With the ever-evolving landscape of crime and public expectations, police forces must navigate complex financial challenges to deliver optimal services.

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Overcrowding in UK Prisons: Misbehaviour & Rehabilitation Initiatives

Overcrowding in UK prisons remains a significant concern in 2024, with the prison population in England and Wales nearing 97,700 inmates (House of Commons Library)​​. This high occupancy rate challenges the maintenance of safety, effective rehabilitation, and prisoner well-being. In July 2024, plans were announced for prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding. Currently, prisoners are released after 50% of their sentence; this is being reduced to 40% to ease overcrowding.

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