The challenge of any police force at times of extraordinary requirements is how to balance a level of resources which are adequate for ordinary times. I recently came across an article which raised the increased threat of cultural crimes such as art theft during the London Olympics. It’s absolutely correct, there is an increased threat but not just for cultural crimes; across the board. Once this is accepted, the challenge is how to deal with it. Clearly there has to be a shift in policing strategy during such an acute period.

I have no doubt that in the run up to the Games we’ll see calls for more manpower to deal with the huge influx into the Capital. On face value this may make sense, but what percentage this will only manage crowds, few of modern crimes are solved by putting more bobbies on the beat. Different cities have dealt with the Games in different ways. Atlanta went down the route of using increased manpower to manage crowds by inviting hundreds of police officers from different countries who were given accommodation and tickets to events in exchange for allowing the Local Police to concentrate on the increased risk of crime.bulking up the police presence. Perhaps an appropriate solution for a city like Atlanta. However a city the size and complexity of London requires a different solution. London policing is well beyond seeing a larger uniformed presence as being the panacea for criminal ills.

Intelligence Led Policing

The now well embedded concept of Intelligence led policing is where the solution lies. But how to go about it? In my opinion oOne of the core requirements will be a recalibration of regional/national Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). Currently police success is measured by KPI’s such as reduction in burglaries, knife crime or violent crime etc. During such an extraordinary period, normal KPI’s cannot should not govern the Policinga strategy and a temporary suspension realignment is required to ensure that resources are deployed effectively.

A strategic approach to the Olympics is the only approach which will work. Accepting that such an event offers increased criminal opportunity and that the police will be dealing with an influx of hundreds of thousands of spectators and athletes it is clear that police resources (even with the support of bussed in uniforms) cannot be expected to maintain the status quo in such a time of extraordinary pressure on a city.

More of the Same... In a good way

The key is in the identification of the increased risks and finding tactical means of dealing with these during the Games. But none of this is new. The Met already use an intelligence led approach (using Memex as part of their software solution) and their strategy for the Olympics is “more of the same”. Taking the example of the increased risk of cultural crime, the approach may be to advise closing some galleries, change opening hours, change the visitor entrance procedure, add temporary security staff or perhaps change the exhibits. In other words, a strategy which identifies increased risk, acknowledges that the status quo can’t be maintained during an extraordinary period and the application of practical, specific solutions. Similarly for everyday crime such a burglary, outlying areas might benefit from a reinforcement of public local education as to on how there could be increased criminal activity, neighbourhood watch liaison, leaflet drops, local motivation for better vigilance among the local population.

So while the media start talking about the need for increased manpower, and other parties point to how different organisations aren’t talking to each other, any organisation which has worked with the Met and London area police forces will be confident that a sensible, rational approach is being taken.