Intelligence-Led Policing Is a Strategy

Intelligence-led policing is a strategy used by many local police departments -- in large and small metropolitan communities -- in order to identify security threats. This paper reviews the literature that fully delves into the value of intelligence-led policing.

Why Intelligence-Led Policing in America?

According to the book Exploring Criminal Justice: The Essentials (Regoli, et al., 2009) intelligence-led policing is a fairly new model of policing that is "…driven by computer databases, intelligence gathering, and analysis." While in the past only large cities were able to afford separate intelligence units -- in order to target drug smugglers and organized crime -- in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, law enforcement agencies "…of all sizes are developing these capabilities" (Regoli).

The United States Department of Justice has published a great deal of information about intelligence-led policing. Among their materials is "Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies," that explains how a "scientific approach" to police problem solving is appropriate for the post-9/11 period. The intelligence-led policing movement is design to provide "effective communications with the public," a reduction in citizen fear, and the ingredients for community mobilization in the event of an emergency (www.cops.usdoj.gov).

The roles that the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) -- in collaboration with the Department of Justice -- has assumed as part of the intelligence-led policing include the following: a) provide examples and materials that serve to help the "recognition of terrorism to community policing contacts"; helping citizens' awareness of "suspicious" activities; b) organizing meetings in neighborhoods sharing strategies of vigilance and awareness; c) help train citizens to know where (and when) to contact police to share and relay information when potential terrorist activities are observed; and d) encourage "prevention, proactive policing, and close working relationships between police and the community" (www.cops.usdoj.gov).

Intelligence-led policing (ILP) basically involves information management (computer-based storage of information, including databases), scientific data analysis (analysis of available intelligence), and problem solving ("reconcile community conditions that are precursors to crime and disorder") (www.cops.usdoj.gov) (pp. 41-42).

Part of ILP includes issues with ethical implications, according to the Department of Justice materials. Decision-making that is backed by ethical thinking means that there is an element of trust between the community and the law enforcement group has been established. If there is not a sense of full trust between the police and the community, the "critical information" that is needed for crime control would not be forthcoming (p. 43).

What are the particulars (regarding intelligence that has been gathered) that officers on the street need in order to know how to respond? The Department of Justice reports that officers need to know: a) who poses threats (any groups or individuals that may pose threats to community safety)? b) "who's doing what with whom?" (descriptions, identities, and "characteristics of conspirators or people who provide logistics in support of terrorism" or other criminal activities); c) what's the "modus operandi of the threat?" (how is the extremist group operating and what are their methods of potential attack?); and d) what is needed to "catch offenders and prevent crime incidents or trends?" (www.cops.usdoj.gov) (p. 45).

Intelligence-Led Policing and Theories of Criminology

Rational choice, as defined by Larry Seigel, is when an offender makes a rational choice to break the law to either improve his personal situation or to further a value he holds as important. The rational choice to break the law is partly based on "…how efficient the local police happen to be…" and in the case of ILP, if the police and the community are united and the signs of cooperation are clearly evident, it may prevent the potential criminal from taking action.

In the case of the psychological trait theory, psychologists will be incorporated into the Intelligence-Led Policing because their expertise can provide important clues as to what to expect from criminals vis-a-vis behaviors that reflect their intentions. Further, the psychological traits of police officers can make a difference in becoming familiar with the various personalities in the community. For example, the personality traits of female police officers -- which tend towards a "…compassionate, sympathetic, and diplomatic" approach to interaction with members of the community (law-abiding and law-breaking members) -- can play an important role in gathering intelligence for ILP databases (Plotnik, et al., 2010). Male police officers tend to be more "…assertive, aggressive, and direct" which may not be as successful when law enforcement seeks citizen information regarding potential threats, Plotnik explains. In other words, gathering intelligence by interacting professionally with members of the community -- the eyes that are needed to detect suspicious activities -- are in all those houses and apartments, and police need access to those citizens.