The National Intelligence Model (NIM) is a well-established model within the policing world that was established in 2000 by the National Criminal Intelligence service (NCIS) and adopted by Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to help to mange the use of setting strategic direction, making prioritised resourcing decisions, intelligently allocating resources in the most efficient manner, developing and outlining tactical plans, coordinating activities and managing associated risks.

NIM has three levels which it operates on:

• Level 1 – Local/Basic Command Unit (BCU)

• Level 2 – Force and/or regional

• Level 3 – Serious and organised crime that is usually national or international

NIM doesn’t just only help to serve crime and intelligence decision-making but is expansive in its dynamics and touches on the general policing business and decision-making. It also serves as a standardised approach for gathering, co coordinating and disseminating intelligence, which can be integrated across all forces and law enforcement agencies.

NIM allows for greater consistency of policing across the UK, operational strategies to focus on key priorities, ensures more officers are focused on solving priority problems and targeting the most active offender, achieves greater compliance with human rights legislation, improves direction and briefing of patrols, helps to reduce rates of persistent offenders through targeting the most prolific and helps to improves integration with partner agencies.