Community Intelligence

Tayside Police

Within Central Division Community Intelligence Unit there was good general NIM awareness among staff particularly regarding the authority of the T&CG. The unit prepares ‘packages’ to be allocated for action by the duty inspector following sanction by the TT&CG with a requirement to report back within 14 days.

A local authority funded community analyst and member of the Housing Department are seconded to work within the unit under appropriate partnership information exchange protocols. This allows the force to provide an extensive view of community issues from a wider perspective. There is a community analyst in each of the divisions within force which is good practice in relation to tackling community issues from a joint agency perspective.

Information Sharing / Partnership working

Strathclyde Police

During the team’s visit there were a number of good examples of information sharing and joint work with partners. This was noted particularly in ‘Q’ division where there are very close links with the local authority and where joint problem solving using NIM principles occurs. For the team, this emphasised the synergy between the Problem Solving Policing (PSP) approach and the NIM as an overarching business framework.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have piloted a successful ‘satellite’ Reports Bureau Office within the Procurator Fiscal’s Office in Dumfries. The Bureau consists of a Sergeant and two Clerical Assistants who act as SPOC for the police and COPFS staff. The Sergeant also participates in both local and regional PF / Police meetings.

This system has also been extended so that the office also acts as SPOC for the Children’s Reporter for the area. This is a good example of partnership working and information sharing in the Criminal Justice Business Area

SCDEA

During the visit there were several examples of partnership working evidenced in relation to joint initiatives with HMRC, UKIS, NCIS, NCS and UK police forces. There is also excellent liaison with European law enforcement and judicial partners in targeting organised criminals based in Scotland. The agency also engages with external partners in relation to financial investigation and other areas of business. All necessary memorandums of understanding and partnership information sharing protocols are in place. This is considered to be an area of some strength for the agency.

Through effective partnership working with NCIS as part of Project Enlighten the SCDEA was able to overcome numerous complex issues around suspicious activity reports (SARS). By obtaining a direct link into the IT system ELMER, access to financial information can be obtained more readily and more usefully.

The agency has seconded an officer to work with the NCS Central Intelligence Unit. This should be of real benefit in the sharing of intelligence across UK borders in support of Scottish control strategy priorities.

East Midlands Special Operations Unit - Partnership Working at Level 2

EMSOU serves Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire all of which have to place bids for their resources using Referral Forms which have been authorised by the Chair of Partners Level 2 T&CG. 

These bids are then risk assessed through the ‘Referral Matrix’, which scores the following areas; Regional Control Strategy, Level of Criminality, Violence and Intimidation, Insulation, Proceeds of Crime, Geographic Scope, Links to other Criminals, Firearms, Counter Measures, Corruption and Harm Reduction.

This matrix uses a high, medium or low marking which works out an overall scoring.  Fours courses of action can then be taken by EMSOU; return to originating Agency, adopt for intelligence resources, adopt for investigative resources or adopt for referral to national agency. 

There is no prescriptive scoring that merits EMSOU’s resources and ultimately the Head of EMSOU considers and endorses all bids accordingly with the course of actions he deems fit. A Tasking and Co-ordination Officer was appointed to maintain the access database of all tasks and to follow up on outstanding tasks by email.  This creation of this role removes this task from the Detective Inspector who now can devote more time to intelligence development work. 

Northern Constabulary

The force is aware of the benefits of involving partners in T&CG meetings, and has invited external agencies to attend meetings or relevant parts thereof e.g. NCIS.

British Transport Police

The Force displays good practice in this area not least of all with standing invitations to the Area and Level 1 Tactical T&CG for Network Rail, First Scotland, Strathclyde Police and Crimestoppers. Similarly there was evidence of good information sharing with rail industry partners.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

The Dumfries and Galloway Safety Camera Partnership involves the force with a number of local partner agencies and the Scottish Executive. There was evidence of the Partnership being tasked to help combat speeding and antisocial driver behaviour in relation to both major events (e.g. the Wickerman Music Festival and the passing through of many motorcyclists en route to the North West 200 in Northern Ireland) and long term threats such as HGV driver behaviour on the arterial A75 route.

Lothian and Borders Police

The ‘Making the Difference’ project has resulted in two analysts, part funded by the local authority, working within the divisional intelligence unit in ‘A’ division. They are principally focused upon youth disorder and related hotspot management. An integrated approach is a core objective and includes information sharing with the NHS, ambulance and fire services in addition to the local authority. The whole partnership has been keen to embrace the NIM and a Partnership Tactical Assessment and tasking and co-ordination process has been developed.

Lothian and Borders Police Capital Partnership Model

Lothian and Borders Police ‘Safer Communities Department’ together with Edinburgh City Council Services for Communities Department have commenced a co-located Partnership / Information sharing scheme, ’The Capital Partnership’., based at Chesser House, Gordie Road, Edinburgh. The scheme is a prototype and will be rolled out across Edinburgh by the end of 2007.

Lothian and Borders Police have also re-structured their city boundaries to coincide with the City Council boundaries basing the city structure around three Operational Command Areas, each under the command of a Superintendent. This has resulted in 6 Neighbourhood areas under the direction of a Chief Inspector who chairs the partnership Tactical and Coordinating Group Meetings.

This is a good example of partnership working across a wide range of contributors all of whom have been afforded the appropriate NIM Training.

Fife Constabulary

Ownership of the NIM within Fife Constabulary lies with the HQ Community Safety Department where a clear understanding of how the model should integrate across the force and with partners is evident. The department has been responsible for providing NIM related training within the force and, commendably, to partners.

The force is developing regular ‘data sharing’ meetings to be held with the local authority whereby complaints, warden information, crime data and ‘call card’ information will be discussed. This should achieve a more intelligence led deployment of community wardens and housing, environmental and police resources. The force also has access to a Community Analyst who considers all information obtained through effective partnership working.