Intelligence-Led Policing: The New Approach

Professional era, problem oriented era, community oriented, whats next? Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP).  This new view on policing came after 9/11. The need for intelligence in preventing terrorist attacks supports this adoption.  After the attacks law enforcement represented the front line defense in the war on terrorism.  Law enforcement change outstandingly, and has shaped the profession for years to come. And for the definition of intelligence; information plus analysis equals intelligence.  Intelligence is crucial for planning, decision making, targeting, and crime prevention.

A critical lesson taken from the tragedy of September 11, 2001 is that intelligence is everyone’s job. A culture of intelligence and collaboration is necessary to protect the United States from crimes of all types. Likewise, for intelligence to be effective, it should support an agency’s entire operation. Crime prevention and deterrence must be based on all-source information gathering and analysis (https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/210681.pdf). 

ILP does not stand as its own approach but it blends in with the community involvement and problem solving methods.  It extends these approaches to research based, information, and communications technology.  It tries to increase information sharing.  A negative effect of ILP is that it includes much attention and strips us of our privacy and civil liberties. 

The concept of comprehensive computer statistics (CompStat)⁴ accountability meetings emerged from the emphasis on information-based decisions and accountability that formed the foundation of ILP.⁵ Technology made it possible to quickly identify and focus on crime hot spots, enabling police practitioners to respond rapidly and to counter crime problems successfully (http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1942&issue_id=112009). 

Predictive policing ties in with IRP.  Predictive policing is based on information based patrol, with rapid response, and intelligence based tactics.  This approach has been shown to reduce crime, create more efficient agencies, and have innovative policing.  You essentially do more with less, by improving policing outcomes through information based tactics and strategy. 

There are a couple downfalls, or problems with this approach.  First, many agencies do not understand intelligence or how to manage it.  Another problem is that agencies must still perform the job of dealing with day to day crime while trying to prevent terrorism.  Also the ability to pull relevant knowledge from the insane about of data is hard to do.  And of course you need more funding for personnel, and technology.  





https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/210681.pdf

http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1942&issue_id=112009