Intelligence Flashcards
‘Intelligence’ is defined as…
Information that has been subject to a defined evaluation and risk assessment process in order to assist with police decision making.
What is the Police National Computer (PNC)?
A national information system available to the police, criminal justice agencies and several other non-police organisations.
It holds comprehensive details of people, vehicles, crimes and property on its database, which can be accessed electronically 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
It is an increasingly powerful tool for investigating crime and supporting operational policing. It is maintained and delivered by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).
The PNC’s functionality includes the following:
Criminal names and records database
Missing and wanted persons database
QUEST (Querying Using Enhanced Techniques). Information to assist in the identification of suspects can be gained by using enhanced search features such as physical description, personal features etc.
VODS (Vehicle Online Description Service) this allows the user to search the vehicle database by such search criteria as registration number, post code and colour of vehicle, in order to narrow a search.
ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition). This is used to take a visual image of a number plate. The PNC devices will scan thousands of number plates every hour, alerting police to any that may be of interest.
Property, this is a database that can be searched for items lost and found e.g. firearms, trailers and animals.
Crimelink is an enhanced, web-based version of the Comparative Case Analysis Tool (CCA), which can be used to assist in solving serious “serial-type” crimes by searching on similarities in incidents and helping investigators to identify patterns and links.
ViSOR, - the Violent and Sex Offender Register
National Firearms Register
What is a recordable offence?
Any offence under United Kingdom law where the police must keep records of convictions and offenders on the Police National Computer.
The current practice is for the police to store details of all recordable offences, and other specific offences, and for these to be held until the individual reaches 100 years old.
Can cautions be removed from the PNC?
It is only in exceptional circumstances that the police will remove a caution.
A caution may be ‘expunged’ from a person’s criminal record by applying to the police. This can be done by setting out a well-argued and comprehensive reason as to why the police should consider ‘expunging’ the caution.
What happens when the police agree to ‘expunge’ a caution?
The PNC will show ‘no further action’ instead of the caution.
It will no longer be disclosed on a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
What is the Police National Database (PND)?
A national information management system which improves the ability of the Police Service to manage and share intelligence and other operational information, to prevent and detect crime and make communities safer.
The PND offers a capability for the Police Service to share, access and search local information electronically, overcoming artificial geographical and jurisdictional boundaries.
Through the Home Office’s Code of Practice on the operational use of the Police National Database the appropriate use of this function can be sanctioned and monitored.
The Code’s Purpose
To promote the lawful and consistent use of the PND and the information obtained from it
To ensure that chief officers adopt practices for the use of the PND and the information obtained from it in order that such information is used effectively for policing purposes
To ensure that the operation of the PND complies with data protection and human rights legislation; and
To ensure that the PND is not used in a way which is discriminatory or otherwise unfair to anyone based on their age, race, ethnicity, any faith or belief, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any disability
What is the National Intelligence Model (NIM)?
NIM is a “Model for Policing” and provides Intelligence to Policing Managers to assist in the formulation of strategic direction, making tactical resourcing decisions and managing risk. It should be noted that the NIM is not just about crime, it can be used in most areas of policing.
What the National Intelligence Model (NIM) does:
Provides greater consistency of policing across the UK
Allows operational strategies to focus on key priorities
Allows more officers to focus on solving priority problems and targeting the most active offenders
Achieves greater compliance with human rights legislation and the Regulation of Investigation Powers Act (RIPA)
Informs the management of risk
Provides more informed business planning and a greater link to operational policing issues
Improves direction and briefing of patrols
Reduces the rate of persistent offenders through specific targeting
Improves integration with partner agencies
The National Intelligence Model (NIM) Works at three levels of crime:
Level Three:
Serious and organised crime usually operating on a national and international scale requiring identification by proactive means and a response primarily through targeted operations by dedicated units. It is also likely to require a national preventative response
Level Two:
Cross border issues affecting more than one area command or division within a force or affecting another force or regional crime activity and usually requiring additional resources.
Level One:
Local crime and disorder capable of being managed by local resources.
National Intelligence Model (NIM) Terms
Minimum Standards:
The Minimum Standards were accepted by ACPO Council in April 2003 and circulated to all police forces.
These standards and a successor document (Minimum Standards 2, which has since raised the degree of sophistication in terms of compliance) are used to form a benchmark for HMIC Inspections.
National Intelligence Model (NIM) Terms
Assets:
Knowledge Products: These include legislation, case law, force policies and procedures and Code of Practice.
System Products: These are the IT and manual systems that ensure security of data and enable intelligence led policing to operate.
Sources: The service identifies a number of sources (e.g. victims, witnesses, offenders and informants). It is essential that information and intelligence is gathered from all sources (as far as is possible) in line with the priorities and the intelligence requirement, and that it is processed correctly through the intelligence systems.
People: The selection, recruitment and retention of the right people in the right roles – it is essential that certain roles are fulfilled in sufficient numbers to provide a high level of resilience.
National Intelligence Model (NIM) Terms
Intelligence Products:
In all there are 4 Intelligence Products, produced at each level, each can include up to 9 analytical techniques:
The Strategic Assessment: This provides the big picture and is produced by the intelligence function in conjunction with relevant specialist. It examines seasonal trends, includes information on what has occurred since the last assessment as well as known or predicted events. It fundamentally attempts to establish what is likely to happen in that area in the 6 months that follow. The document makes recommendations in relation t priorities for intelligence, prevention and enforcement.
The Tactical Assessment: Similar to the above but is produced on a fortnightly basis; it provides recommendations as to the tactical activity in relation to intelligence, prevention and enforcement.
The Problem Profile: Also produced by the intelligence function and relevant specialist, this is commissioned by the Tactical Assessment and identifies the scale of a problem with a BCU, force or region. It identifies potential suspects and recommends tactics under intelligence, prevention and enforcement.
The Target Profile: This document profiles suspects/ offenders and identifies potential and known weaknesses in their criminal activities – it recommends tactical options.
