Intelligence-Led Policing

Definitions

Disagreements exist about the definition of ILP and its utility in policing. This is particularly the case with the word intelligence, which has several meanings in law enforcement vernacular and in the law. Jerry Ratcliffe, in his 2008 book Intelligence-Led Policing, provides this definition:

David Carter, in Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Guide for State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies (2004), characterized ILP as an underlying organizational philosophy that fits into all areas of operations and the overall mission of the agency. He further argued that ILP cannot be simplified as an add-on function but must be integrated into an agency’s goals and functions. There are many other articles published in academic and government journals and practitioner magazines that identify the utility of ILP in addressing threats of terrorism. Law enforcement agencies adapt ILP to meet their individual needs. Some agencies focus more on its use as a business model, whereas others may use it to enhance their community and problem-oriented policing efforts.

Origins and Emergence in the United States

ILP began as an outcome of the Kent Constabulary’s efforts in the United Kingdom during the 1990s to manage law enforcement resources efficiently and to respond effectively to serious crime. There was concern that police were spending too much time responding to crime problems and too little time targeting offenders.

In 2000, the National Criminal Intelligence Service published the National Intelligence Model (NIM), which established the following priorities for British police service:

• Target prolific offenders through overt and covert means.
• Manage crime and disorder hot spots.
• Identify and investigate linked series of crime or incidents.
• Apply prevention measures that include working with a broad range of other disciplines.

The priorities for NIM were based on research and the experiences of law enforcement practitioners. Longitudinal studies in the United States and United Kingdom demonstrated that that a small percentage of offenders are responsible for a majority of crimes. Research has also identified that traditional policing strategies, such as random patrol, rapid response, and retrospective investigations have little impact on crime and neighborhood disorder. Research also shows that crimes and calls for service cluster at specific locations. It is also known that collaboration among law enforcement agencies is vital to crime control and prevention strategies and tactics.

...