February CPD Programme and January Webinar Highlights

January marked a strong start to the year for Police Oracle and Red Snapper Learning, including the launch of our new Open Programme alongside a wide range of General Academy sessions. Across January’s webinars, practitioners engaged with practical, evidence-led learning focused on investigations, safeguarding, and professional decision-making, with a clear emphasis on defensibility, accountability, and professional curiosity.

The introduction of the Open Programme expanded access to structured, in-depth training across core areas of practice, complementing the General Academy with a broader suite of capability-building sessions. Together, both programmes reinforce our commitment to CPD that supports confident, proportionate decision-making in complex operational environments.

Below is a summary of key themes and insights from January’s webinars, followed by a chronological overview of upcoming sessions in February.

January’s programme set a strong foundation for the year, with sessions focused on legal compliance, safeguarding, and professional judgement across complex areas of practice. Training on CPIA and digital disclosure and on RIPA and IPA reinforced the importance of lawful decision-making, defensible recording, and confidence when working with sensitive or covert material.

Safeguarding and reflective practice also featured heavily, including learning on evidence-informed practice, safeguarding vulnerable adults in custody, and victim-focused PEACE interviewing. Sessions on complex interview planning and courageous conversations highlighted the value of professional curiosity, ethical challenge, and structured reflection in day-to-day decision-making.

Selected webinar recap videos and key takeaways from January’s sessions will be available on the Police Oracle landing page, providing on-demand insight into the themes shaping our programmes as we move into February.

Disclosure & CPIA: Practical Casework Steps
Wednesday 5 February (General Academy)
This session focuses on the practical realities of disclosure under CPIA, using real case examples to explore disclosure schedules, redaction, and pre-charge engagement. It supports proportionate, defensible disclosure decisions that stand up to scrutiny. Designed for practitioners managing live investigations and complex casework.

Core Investigation Skills
Tuesday 10 February (Open Programme)
Effective investigations rely on structure, clarity, and disciplined decision-making. This course builds foundational investigative skills, guiding participants through the full lifecycle of an inquiry from strategy-setting to file preparation. It focuses on evidencing decisions, managing continuity, and working systematically with intelligence, digital material, and legal advice.

Race, Power and Professional Practice
Monday 10 February (General Academy)
A reflective session examining how race, power, and systemic inequality shape professional judgement and organisational culture. Participants are encouraged to consider how these dynamics influence decision-making and outcomes. The session focuses on awareness that informs ethical, culturally intelligent practice.

Digital Evidence Awareness for Investigators
Wednesday 12 February (General Academy)
Digital material now features in the majority of investigations, often from the earliest stages. This webinar introduces practical approaches to identifying, preserving, and using mobile phone and social media evidence effectively. It highlights common risks that can undermine evidential integrity if not addressed early.

Domestic Abuse: Understanding the Homicide Timeline
Tuesday 17 February (Open Programme)
This session examines how domestic abuse escalates over time, using the Domestic Homicide Timeline to identify patterns, warning signs, and missed intervention opportunities. Drawing on learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews, it supports practitioners to strengthen professional curiosity and challenge assumptions. The focus is on recognising risk earlier and taking proactive steps to prevent escalation.

Reflective Practice for Officers: Accountability and Growth
Monday 17 February (General Academy)
Reflection is a professional safeguard that supports learning, accountability, and improved decision-making. This session demonstrates how structured reflection can turn challenging experiences into opportunities for growth. It is particularly relevant for officers working in complex or high-pressure environments.

OSINT Foundations: From Search to Evidence
Wednesday 19 February (General Academy)
This webinar introduces structured open-source intelligence workflows, with a focus on verification, proportionality, and record-keeping. Participants will explore how to move from online searches to professionally reliable material. Emphasis is placed on evidential standards rather than discovery alone.

Faith, Belief and Safeguarding
Monday 24 February (General Academy)
Faith and belief can shape how safeguarding concerns are understood, disclosed, or managed. This session supports practitioners to engage respectfully with faith communities while maintaining professional curiosity and risk awareness. It explores how belief can act as both a protective factor and a potential barrier.

CPIA & Digital Disclosure Essentials
Tuesday 24 February (Open Programme)
Disclosure failures increasingly stem from poor handling of digital material rather than a lack of intent. This course provides essential training on CPIA duties alongside practical strategies for managing electronic evidence. It focuses on building defensible disclosure schedules, triaging digital material effectively, and avoiding common pitfalls that undermine cases.

Interviewing Suspects
Thursday 26 February (Open Programme)
Legally sound suspect interviews require careful planning, ethical practice, and strategic challenge. This session develops advanced PEACE model techniques, focusing on questioning, disclosure timing, and managing inconsistencies. It supports interviews that are both admissible and effective in advancing investigative outcomes.