Knowledge Led Policing is the way forward

I previously wrote a short article on knowledge vs intelligence led policing not to argue semantics or accepted terminology, rather to make the points that effective policing is dependant on the ability to manipulate the totality of the corporate information. Decision-making needs to be conducted with the benefit of knowledge.

The need for this capacity was highlighted in Radio 4 ‘Today’ debate (11th March). The debate entitled ‘Tackling the Chronic Illness of Anti Social Behaviour,’ involved Chief Inspector of Constabulary Denis O’Connor and Sir Hugh Orde, President of ACPOS. In the broadcast Mr O’Connor expressed concern over forces’ ability to properly record and help repeat victims.

Whilst this is a complex subject, at its core (according to Mr O’Connor) is the requirement for smart systems that allow the police response to be tailored in an appropriate way.

Quality of life issues are more commonly exposed by the media; emotive stories of the victims of anti-social behaviour whose suffering has been exacerbated by inadequate response from the authorities. But failure to properly exploit information and knowledge assets to maximum effect exists across all police activity.

So how do smart systems help? In a nutshell they support 360 decision-making. Smart sytems allow access to information, appropriate to the searcher’, from multiple sources in multiple formats and importantly they allow this information to be manipulated by the user for decision-making.

This is not a pipe dream, such technology exists!

Systems need to marshal all relevant information and render it searchable and able to be manipulated to support policing activity. Of course, as the information is not always owned by the police, systems are required to provide for data sharing arrangements either by importing data or launching searches of partner systems.

Intelligence vs Knowledge

Accessing the information is only one part of the equation. Information in itself is of limited value without the knowledge of what do with it. Whilst the UK has arguably the best-trained officers in the world, this does not remove the need to support the decision-making process by pushing relevant information or enforcing specific action. The smart systems available can be configured to recognise activity where intervention, in the form of supplementary information or advice, is appropriate.

In the Radio 4 debate Sir Hugh Orde highlighted the fact that, whilst the spotlight tends to fall on the police for failures in tackling the anti social behaviour problem, there are many other services with responsibility. In order for our police forces to be able to respond and set the appropriate course of action in train they need to have access to information (including whose responsible for what) but also have systems smart enough to be able to manipulate it for decision-making.

To do so requires knowledge not just intelligence!