Lecture 3 Decision Making and the role of evidence

Question 1

What are the six elements of the National Decision Making Model?

CIAPOAR

Answer 1

Code of Ethics
Information and Intelligence 
Assess threat and risks and develop a working strategy 
Powers and Policies 
Options and Contingencies 
Action
Review

Question 2

Throughout a situation, decision makers should ask themselves?

Answer 2

• Is what I am considering consistent with the Code of Ethics?
• What would the victim or community affected expect of me in this situation?
• What does the police service expect of me in this situation?
• Is this action or decision likely to reflect positively on my professionalism and policing generally?
• Could I explain my action or decision in public?

Question 3

Information – gather information and intelligence?

Answer 3

During this stage the decision maker defines the situation (ie, defines what is happening or has happened) and clarifies matters relating to any initial information and intelligence.
Decision makers (ie, potentially everyone in policing) could ask themselves:

What is happening?
What do I know so far?
What do I not know?
What further information (or intelligence) do I want/need at this moment?

Question 4

Assessment – assess threat and risk and develop a working strategy?

Answer 4

This analytical stage involves assessing the situation, including any specific threat, the risk of harm and the potential for benefits. Among other things decision makers should consider the objectives of preventing discrimination, promoting good relations and fostering equal opportunities.
Develop a working strategy to guide subsequent stages by asking:

• Do I need to take action immediately?
• Do I need to seek more information?
• What could go wrong (and what could go well)?
• What is causing the situation?
• How probable is the risk of harm?
• How serious would it be?
• Is that level of risk acceptable?
• Is this a situation for the police alone to deal with?
• Am I the appropriate person to deal with this?
• What am I trying to achieve?
• Will my action resolve the situation?

Question 5

Powers and policy – consider powers and policy?

Answer 5

This stage involves considering the powers, policies and legislation that could apply in this particular situation.
Decision makers could ask themselves:

• What police powers might be required?
• Is there any national guidance covering this type of situation?
• Do any local organisational policies or guidelines apply?
• What legislation might apply?
• Is there any research evidence?
  It may be reasonable to act outside policy as long as there is a good rationale for doing so.

Question 6

Options – identify options and contingencies?

Answer 6

This stage involves considering the different ways to make a particular decision (or resolve a situation) with the least risk of harm.
Decision makers should consider:

• the options that are open
• the immediacy of any threat
• the limits of information to hand
• the amount of time available
• the available resources and support
• their own knowledge, experience and skills
• the impact of potential action on the situation and the public
• what action to take if things do not happen as anticipated.

If decision makers have to account for their decisions, will they be able to say they were:

• proportionate, legitimate, necessary and ethical?
• reasonable in the circumstances facing them at the time?

Question 7

Action and review – take action and review what happened?

Answer 7

This stage has two distinct steps. At the action step, decision makers are required to make and implement appropriate decisions. The review step requires decision makers to review and reflect on what happened once an incident is over.

Action
Respond:
- Implement the option you have selected.
- Does anyone else need to know what you have decided?

Record:
- If you think it is appropriate, record what you did and why.

Monitor:

• What happened as a result of your decision?
• Was it what you wanted or expected to happen?
• If the incident is continuing, go through the NDM again as necessary.

Review
If the incident is over, review your decisions, using the NDM. What lessons can you take from how things turned out and what might you do differently next time? If appropriate, evaluate the impact of the decision on outcomes.

Question 8

What is the ICII model?

Answer 8

Identity
Capability
Intent
Immediacy

Question 9

What is PLANE?

Answer 9

Proportionality
Legality 
Accountability 
Necessity 
Ethical

Question 10

What is the difference between information and intelligence?

Answer 10

Information is the raw material, intelligence is the evaluation of that information.