German Police University

A differentiated understanding of how regional human activities affect the spatial distribution and abundance of animals is of great ecological importance. However, estimating these effects from empirical data is challenging, as human activities influence animals in different ways and on various spatial and temporal scales. Additionally, spatio-temporal animal abundance is often shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which can confound impact assessments. To separate these influences, we combined regression and mechanistic modelling. First, we used partial differential equations to simulate potential animal redistribution patterns driven by regional human activities. These patterns were then incorporated as predictors into regression-based species distribution models, alongside other anthropogenic and environmental covariates. This allowed us to estimate and predict human-induced changes by jointly accounting for pressure-driven large-scale redistribution and local changes in expected abundance, while controlling for additional environmental influences. We applied this approach to assess the impact of offshore wind farms (OWF) on common murres (Uria aalge) in the German North Sea during autumn. OWF constructed by 2019 reduced common murre numbers within German waters by 18.3%. If the planned OWF priority and reservation areas outlined in the German Marine Spatial Plan are implemented, the predicted net reduction within German waters would increase to 77.7%. Importantly, these predictions do not account for additional anthropogenic activities or OWF expansion in surrounding waters, which could further affect common murre abundance beyond the scenarios considered here. By comparing predicted animal numbers and distributions under hypothetical scenarios with and without specific human pressures, our method enables the quantification and prediction of human-induced effects on regional trends and large-scale redistribution. The framework provides a transparent way to disentangle large-scale redistribution and cumulative effects from local responses in spatially bounded management areas, supporting impact assessments under ongoing expansion of offshore renewables.

Senior police officers' tactical gaze control and visual attention improve with an individual video-based police firearms training. To validate the efficacy of said intervention training, a previous experiment was systematically replicated with a sample of N = 52 second-year police cadets. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention training that focused on situational awareness, tactical gaze control, and visual attention, or an active control training that addressed traditional marksmanship skills. In a pre- and post-test, they had to engage in dynamic shoot/don't shoot video scenarios in an indoor firing range. Overall, the previous findings were replicated: Baseline levels of performance were elevated, yet the intervention group significantly improved their response time and time until the first hit. False positive decision-making cannot be reported at all; false negatives were marginal in the pre-test and eliminated after training. Further, the outcomes of the previous sample of senior officers and the present sample of cadets are compared and lead to the conclusion that the presented approach is a valuable extension of current training standards for both senior police officers and police cadets.

Abstract This and the next chapter review the wider repercussions of the COVID-19 lockdowns in Europe in the context of domestic violence (DV) where couples and families had to spend their entire days with each other. Individual stress levels were exacerbated by fears of unemployment, health concerns and worries about societal changes. Media reports and experts predicted a massive increase of domestic violence occurrence plus concerns about access to victim services.Using their working connections to law enforcement agencies, victim and health service in the eight participating countries, IMPRODOVA researchers assembled available data collections, expert opinions and other sources to demonstrate the lockdown effects on domestic violence incidence. A table demonstrates increases, stagnation and decreases in different frontline responder categories.Violence occurrence during lockdowns and associated risk factors can be identified on an individual level, for example, mental health and money problems; on an organisational level, for example, on the part of medical practitioners dealing with domestic violence victims; and on a wider societal level. These are explicated in the third chapter.KeywordsCOVID-19 lockdown effectsUnemploymentStress levelsHealth concernsSocietal changeLaw enforcementVictim servicesMedia reportingDomestic violence occurrenceFrontline responderRestraining ordersEmergency callsHotline callsShelter referralsAwareness campaignsPress releases‘Safe space’ in supermarkets and pharmaciesDigitalisationIsolationConfinementTelephone crisis servicesMedical sectorPublic awarenessFace-to-face contacts

Interrogation is a core task of practical police work. The outcomes of interrogation often provide crucial evidence for solving criminal cases. The success of interrogation depends on interactions between police officers and citizens. Based on a comprehensive literature overview, we propose a three-factor typology for interrogations by police officers. First, the competencies of police officers refer to the application of personal, professional, social, and methodological capabilities. The underlying concept of interrogation refers to the application of both explicit and implicit experience-based interrogation models. Communication refers to the goal-directed application of communication tactics and techniques. According to this typology, we discuss the major objectives of police interrogation in police service and training from police officers’ perspectives. The present study provides guidance for practical police services and training by offering an evidence-based interrogation standard.