James, AD Police intelligence practice in the UK. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This submission is based on evidence derived from three empirical studies of police intelligence practice carried out over the last 10 years (see James, 2013, 2016 and 2017). Those studies suggest that even if the amelioration of some long-standing problems in that milieu can be discerned, structural and cultural barriers to the effectiveness of the work remain. Too often in mainstream policing, intelligence practice is seen as ancillary to the business of ‘real’ policing; co-existing in parallel with the operational world but not routinely influencing it in sufficiently meaningful ways. In the last three years, meaningful efforts have been made to professionalise the intelligence function but the extent to which those efforts have yet borne fruit is debatable. Beyond the higher policing units (whose raison d’être is the conversion of intelligence into action against serious and organised crime), there seems to be limited understanding of the value of intelligence and a propensity to underestimate the merits of the work. Within the institution, advocates of intelligence, and motivated intelligence practitioners, have found it difficult to shift the dialectic to one in which intelligence is seen as central to the success of the policing mission. These factors undermine the institution’s ability to respond effectively both to evolving demands and changing patterns of crime.

Item Type:	Other
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Divisions:	Humanities & Social Science
Date Deposited:	10 Apr 2018 09:36
Last Modified:	19 Apr 2022 12:41
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/8407

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