Reference no: EM132272768

Assignment

1. Explain the intelligence cycle as it is applicable to Intelligence-Led Policing.

The intelligence cycle is defined as the process through which information in its raw form is transformed into a more valuable and finished form called intelligence which can easily be used in the making of policies and decisions (Phythian, 2013). This is a cycle that has five steps and is commonly used in different fields and professions as a way of making evidence-based decisions.

Intelligence-led policing is led policing is defined as a type of policing that is based on the assessment of risks and management of the identified risk.

This is a method of policing that became very popular after the 9/11 incident where policymakers and law enforcement agency saw the need to be more proactive to prevent crimes from happening rather than responding to the crimes when they have already happened and caused so much harm.

The intelligence cycles whose five steps are planning, the collection of data, processing, analyzing and production and finally, the dissemination of the result is the basis of Intelligence-Led Policing (Phythian, 2013). This is because for intelligence-led policing to be successful there is a need to have effective and accurate intelligence being used.

The intelligence cycle is very useful in this type if policing because it serves as the process through which the intelligence is developed. Usually, this process is useful because a lot of information that reaches the law enforcers is mainly in its raw form. This information needs to be refined in such a way that it is more understandable and can easily be fit into the activities of the law enforcers.

The intelligence cycle is used to refine the raw information by breaking it down into more valuable bits which can easily make sense for the everyday policing roles of law enforcers and in this form the information can be used to make decisions and formulate strategies and policies.

The intelligence cycle is further very valuable in ensuring that accurate and effective intelligence is used in intelligence-led policing since it allows for information received to go through scrutiny a process where irrelevant or false information can be identified and discarded to avoid misleading the decision-making process. In general, it allows information to be taken through a series of checks and balances and thus enhancing effectiveness in the development of intelligence (Phythian, 2013).

2. How would you apply the intelligence cycle to a criminal behavior of your choice?

The intelligence cycle is especially relevant for high-end crimes such as terrorism which can cause a lot of damage and loss of lives and are better off prevented than cured. In regard to terrorism, the intelligence cycle can be applied to help gain intelligence to help prevent acts of terror by identifying risks easily enough and dealing with them to either mitigate them or prevent them from occurring.

Planning as the first step of the intelligence cycle is done by homeland security which is mandated to handle cases of terrorism in the country.

Information in regards to this crime can be acquired through the Information haring Environment which is a platform created specifically for that purpose or through direct reporting to various agencies or through information that is acquired from surveillances made by law enforcers.

This information can then be processed to simplify the data for further analysis and also remove any irrelevant information. Analysis of the information can then be conducted to convert it to intelligence in its finished form and reports on the same produced (Phythian, 2013). The final stage of the cycle is disseminating the information in the report to relevant authorities for the right actions to be taken based on the recommendation made on the report.

Reference

Phythian, M. (2013). Understanding the intelligence cycle. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.