Concurrent session 1a—Intelligence: A theoretical framework for strategic intelligence in law enforcement focused on transnational organised crime

Mr John Coyne, Coordinator Strategic Intelligence Services, Australian Federal Police

Strategic intelligence theory and practice in law enforcement has developed slowly as a result of intelligence-led policing (ILP) methodologies and police cultural resistance. The initial implementation of ILP has focused on tactical intelligence support. As a result, most law enforcement intelligence research, as well as organisational and professional intelligence doctrine, has had a sharp tactical focus which has centred on information collection, collation and sense-making at the street and case level.

Since the late 1980s, law enforcement agencies have become increasingly aware that their capabilities have been substantially surpassed by the number of criminal acts and their increasing complexity. This issue has been particularly evident with respect to transnational organised crime (TOC). Globally, law enforcement agencies have developed and implemented a range of police management methodologies to move from responsive to proactive paradigms in response to crime environment developments—especially TOC.

The application of strategic intelligence in law enforcement has been viewed by some as the means by which decision making on strategy setting and policy, using incomplete or complex data sets, can be made more objective. Strategic intelligence has become increasingly important in an age where the role of police has morphed from simplistic response and enforcement activity to one of managing human security risk. In this evolving paradigm shift, it is argued that strategic intelligence can be used to reduce the impact of strategic surprise from evolving criminal threats and environmental change.

This presentation will present a theoretical framework for strategic intelligence in law enforcement focused on TOC. The framework was developed from explorative research using case studies of the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commissioner, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada. The research was underpinned by an interpretivist theoretical perspective.