NCJ Number
210957
Date Published
2005
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes five approaches to crime analysis and explores the role of crime analysis in policing work.
Abstract
Crime analysis involves a complex set of functions and outcomes that support police work. The term “crime analysis” generally refers to the “process of researching, sorting, reviewing, presenting, and interpreting information and intelligence about a range of policing problems.” Five approaches to crime analysis are introduced: strategic analysis, tactical analysis, investigative analysis, performance analysis, and operational or business analysis. Each perform a different function for law enforcement and involve a different outcome. The emergence of intelligence-led policing or proactive policing opened the door for the development of more systematic approach to crime analysis. Crime analysts working in intelligence-led policing environments will use many techniques to produce a range of products for police use. In the United Kingdom, the framework for the implementation of intelligence-led policing is provided by the National Intelligence Model (NIM), an agency that has also guided the development of systematic crime analysis techniques. The NIM provides minimum standards for police forces in terms of the infrastructure and the processes required to support intelligence-led policing, which has assured the role for analysis in police work as mankind marches into the future. Another force driving the future of crime analysis is the increased pressure on the police to enhance performance in terms of crime control and reduction. This pressure, coupled with the continued development of information technologies and increased police professionalism will ensure a role for strategic analysis functions within law enforcement agencies. In the end, it is up to police forces to create the right type of environment for crime analysis to flourish. Notes, references