‘Intelligence’ used to be a word you only heard in conjunction with the security services or the police – intelligence managers running teams of intelligence officers, analysts and researchers located within ‘intelligence cells. Analytical techniques, which have taken years to develop within the intelligence community, are now being adopted within private industry and local government. Recognising its value, these organisations will either buy in these valuable services from specialist companies or set up departments with their own teams of intelligence specialists. 

Intelligence, research and analysis allows organisations to monitor what issues affect their business, be it fraud, community influences, social media or other external sources. By using a team of specialists to research and analyse threats enables the organisation to risk assess and be aware of changing threats and situations quickly.

Using Intelligence for Communities

One of own case studies displays an example of an analytical team engaging with a local community where a small village in Kent suddenly experienced a sharp increase in criminal damage. This culminated in the village church having its stained-glass windows smashed and items stolen.

Our team analysed the incidents, produced a timeline, and identified a pattern where the timing was always around lunchtime on weekdays, with youths involved of similar descriptions. This led the analyst to look at schools in the area identifying one establishment of interest. The local community were asked to be particularly vigilant around the relevant times.

A subsequent arson led to the fire brigade being called and noting three youths close by, this was passed to our analyst who matched the descriptions to those linked to previous offences. The residents were then asked to check any CCTV, one of which identified the same three youths.