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Intelligence is information (raw data) worked, evaluated in context to its source and reliability to create added value and meaning to its user (Information + Evaluation = Intelligence).

Analysis is about tracing their source to discover the general principles behind the information and ascertaining parts. Therefore we can say that intelligence analysis is about collecting and utilising information, evaluating it to process it into intelligence, and then analysing that intelligence to produce products to support informed decision-making. 

Analysis goes beyond the facts asking questions such as: 

• What exactly is the problem?

• What is it a problem?

• What information do we already possess that is relevant to the problem?

• Where is the information held?

• How can we obtain it?

• What meaning can we extract from the information?

• Are we ready to take action with the information received?

The process of applying these questions, evaluating the answers, choosing the response and outputs/actions is the process and essence of what analysis is about. Analysis is going beyond the facts and digging deeper.

Therefore criminal intelligence analysis is the in-depth analysis of criminal activity, criminal information and the criminals. This also includes the retrieval and storage of digital/online content. The use of Information Technology has become ever so critical in the modern age.

The role of the forensic science regulator is to advise the Government and the criminal justice system on quality standards in the provision of forensic science. Recommend new requirements for new and improved standards and providing advice and guidance so that providers will be able to demonstrate compliance with common standards, in procurement and in courts 


A key requirement of any standards framework in forensic science is that the output meets the requirements of the Criminal Justice System (CJS). 
 This document sets out the view of the Regulator as to the legal landscape within which forensic scientists operate within the CJS. 


There are legal obligations placed on expert witnesses as sources in the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales as Expert evidence is admissible “to furnish the court with scientific information which is likely to be outside the experience and the knowledge of a judge or jury”. This places the expert witness in a privileged position.

It is important to note that expert evidence can only be given by a person who is an expert in the relevant field. An expert witness must provide the court with objective, unbiased opinion on 
matters within his expertise 
Witnesses must act with honesty and good faith. 


Police engagement and communication is key to the success of community policing and having an effective presence in the area the police serves in. Developing and maintaining healthy and positive relationships with community leaders and the wider public is crucial for establishing engagement. Without this being able to prevent, detect or investigate and solve crime may become much more difficult, as well as bringing offenders to justice. It will reduce confidence and public image in the Police service as service to the public may become unworkable. There it is important that both the public and Police service both cooperate and be in intentional about developing strong relations.

It is important to the local police that communities have confidence and trust in the Police Service in order for the Police to carry out their duties effectively and to keep communities safe. Both parties play an essential role in the world of policing.

This document sets out the principles of engagement and communication, including public relations.

Asset Disposal & Information Security Alliance (ADISA) is an organisation designed to improve risk management and data protection within business processes for IT asset retirement and disposal.

The ADISA ICT Asset Recovery Standard 7.0 is an updated version released in January 2020 from its first launch from its first launch in 2010. It better aligns to the updates and amendments of the Data Protection legislation including but not limited to the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the UK Data Protection Act and the Californian Consumer Privacy Act 2018.

This area covers asset management and data sanitisation. The ADISA ICT Asset Recovery Standard was developed to identify risk which might exist within this process and to then assess countermeasures which are in place to mitigate that risk.

 The objective of the ADISA Asset Recovery Standard is to ensure that every data bearing asset is managed throughout the process and that any resident data is sanitised in accordance with the client’s requirements or to industry best practice levels, to promote the re-use of assets through risk management and to help organisations comply with Data Protection Laws.

These are achieved by creating a physical environment within the ITAD process which offers equivalent levels of security to those in place when the asset is in its live environment, testing the abilities of the service provider to create and then maintain the chain of custody throughout the process, ensuring the process is consistent and repeatable, assessing current data sanitisation processes on ALL media types.

The Standard is presented in 10 Modules each covering different aspects in asset recovery and contain mandatory requirements.

There are current plans for version 8 of this document.

European Pool against Organised Crime (EPOC IV) was introduced in 2004 as the Eurojust Case Management System.  It facilitates the secure storage of case-related personal data, the exchange of information amongst National Members and the analysis of that data.

EPOC also provides a set of tools to facilitate interoperability of national systems and can be used as a component to support international cooperation in national systems.   

Reference Dataset consists of:

• Currency Class

• EU EPOC Country (Bulgarian)

• EU EPOC Country (English)

• EU EPOC Country (French)

• EU EPOC Country (Lithuanian)

• EU EPOC Country (Slovene)

• EU EPOC Crime Type (Bulgarian)

• EU EPOC Crime Type (English)

• EU EPOC Crime Type (French)

• EU EPOC Crime Type (Lithuanian)

• EU EPOC Crime Type (Slovene)

• EU EPOC Currency Type (English)

• EU EPOC Currency Type (Lithuanian)

• EU EPOC Drug Code (English and Other Languages) L1 (English)

• EU EPOC Drug Code (English and Other Languages) L2 (Other Languages)

• EU EPOC Drug Code (Lithuanian)

• Home Office Drug Codes L2 (Description)

• ISO 3166-1 Country Codes 2 Char

An investigation is undertaken when a crime has been reported and a police officer investigates the circumstance following all lines of enquiry of the situation to determine if a crime has been conducted and where a person/s should be charged with an offence, or if the person who offended is guilty.

Under the Home Office counting rules, when members of the public are making a complaint, victims should be believed for the matter of recording a crime unless it's clear that the incident did not happen. An investigators duty is to gather and test all material presented including witness accounts/statements and use technical and scientific expertise to maximise evidential opportunity.

The following outcomes may be that the suspect is prosecuted in court, receives an out of court disposal, community resolution or charges dropped. A lot of the times investigators may not find enough evidential material to make a charging decision either as a result of lack of evidence or not enough lines of enquiry to pursue. However the investigation outcome must still be recorded accurately for intelligence purposes and especially for future use, as this will help police identify crime hotspots and help reduce crime rates.  

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the associated Codes of Practice set out the legislation and standards for dealing with people who come into contact with the police. Whilst members of the public are detained in custody, officers and staff should treat them in a way that is dignified and takes account of their human rights and individual needs. The Police force are only allowed to use force within a custody suite which is deemed necessary, proportionate and lawful and must be recorded by officers who have undergone appropriate and adequate training.

The PACE covers the following:

• police use of force

• lawful arrest

• searches

• designation of a police station

• police resources

When an officer makes an arrest, they are personally responsible for the risk assessment and welfare of the detained person. This responsibility continues until the suspect is handed over to the custody officer for a decision regarding detention. For a member of the public to be detained at a police station the following must be addressed and considered by the Custody officer:

• the grounds for detention

• whether to grant bail

• whether to authorise or refuse detention

It is possible for an individual arrested not to be detained if the custody officer believes that there are insufficient grounds for detention. The reasons must be and the detainee must be released.

There are occasions that require the use of firearms by Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) in conflict situations. This response is a well-established and necessary approach to managing conflict. Commanders and AFOs are trained to analyse and determine appropriate courses of action in the course of armed deployments.

Police officers have a positive duty to protect the public from harm – a duty of care to all involved must be the overriding consideration. Police decision-making and response is vital in such situations and thus the National Decision model (NDM) is used to assist with the decision-making process.

The Authorised Professional Practice for Armed Policing covers guidance on the appropriate use of firearms within the police force. It also acts as a basis for training police officers in matters relating to the operational use of firearms.

The also provides guidance on structural command, tactical options and operational challenges with the deployment of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs).

Undercover policing is a covert tactic used by the Police to obtain evidence and intelligence. It is also used to detect crime and disorder and help maintain public safety.

Undercover policing is a lawful and ethical tactic and when applied rightly can be very effective tool. In order to ensure it is kept this way, Authorised Professional Practice (APP) has been developed and used by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) across the United Kingdom.

There is an undercover accreditation process that has been developed to provide an assessment of whether the management and governance of undercover units are effective in supporting safe, ethical and lawful undercover operations.

Undercover operatives (UCOs) are deployed as covert human intelligence sources (CHIS) in authorised investigations. There are three different types of UCOs, Undercover foundation(UCFs), Undercover advanced operatives (UCAs) AND Undercover online operatives (UCOLs). All must go through vigorous training and go through a robust selection process.

Police have a duty to respond to every incident reported in an appropriate way and in a timely manner. A critical incident (CI) is defined as:

any incident where the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community. An incident can be escalated to a CI when the police fail to meet the expectation of a victim/family and/or the community in responding to an incident.

Therefore critical incident management (CIM) is key within the police force. Different types of incidents can become critical, high profile, serious or homicide related. If the police do not respond in a timely manner to serious incidents it can result in loss of confidence by the public.

There are 3 stages to CIM:

1. Preparing for critical incidents – considering current management structures to ensure staff are trained effectively and resources are available

2. Managing critical incidents – identifying critical incidents early on and notified to the most appropriate person.

3. Restoring public confidence – restoring broken confidence amongst the public by community engagement, resolution and public inquiry.