Police Intelligence and the Intelligence Cycle

Information that has been collected, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted to support lawful police decisions and operations.

To reduce uncertainty and support crime prevention, threat assessment, investigations, and operational decision-making.

Raw information consists of unprocessed observations or reports; intelligence results from evaluating and analyzing relevant information.

A systematic process for directing, collecting, processing, analyzing, disseminating, and evaluating intelligence.

Planning and direction, which identifies intelligence requirements and establishes collection priorities.

A specific question or information need that intelligence activities are intended to answer.

A high-priority intelligence question essential to a commander's or decision-maker's responsibilities.

A document identifying required information, lawful sources, collection responsibilities, priorities, and deadlines.

Obtaining relevant information from authorized sources and methods to satisfy established intelligence requirements.

Organizing, converting, recording, and preparing collected information for evaluation and analysis.

Systematically examining information to identify patterns, relationships, implications, and defensible conclusions.

Delivering intelligence products to authorized recipients who need the information for their duties.

Information from users about the usefulness, accuracy, timeliness, and remaining gaps in intelligence products.

To assess the reliability, credibility, relevance, and limitations of collected information.

An assessment of how consistently and dependably a source has provided accurate information.

An assessment of whether a particular report or claim is believable based on evidence, consistency, and corroboration.

A generally reliable source may provide incorrect information, while an unfamiliar source may provide accurate information.

Checking a claim against independent evidence or sources to determine whether it is supported.

The tendency to favor information supporting an existing belief while discounting contradictory evidence.

An important unanswered question or missing information that limits an intelligence assessment.

An analytical assessment of a situation, potential developments, and their implications based on available information.

A structured evaluation of a potential threat's nature, capability, intent, and relevant circumstances.

An evaluation of weaknesses that could expose people, facilities, systems, or operations to harm.

An assessment combining information about threats, vulnerabilities, likelihood, and potential consequences.

Intelligence supporting long-term policies, organizational priorities, and broad security decisions.

Intelligence supporting the planning, coordination, and management of particular operations or campaigns.

Intelligence supporting immediate or short-term field decisions and specific operational actions.

Human Intelligence.

Information obtained from human sources through lawful reporting, interviews, observations, or other authorized means.

Open-Source Intelligence.

Intelligence developed from publicly available or otherwise lawfully accessible information.

Signals Intelligence.

Intelligence derived from intercepted or collected signals under applicable legal authority.

Imagery Intelligence.

Intelligence derived from interpreting photographs, satellite imagery, or other image-based information.

Intelligence derived from analyzing imagery and geospatial information about locations, activities, and physical features.

An organized presentation of relevant intelligence findings, uncertainties, and operational implications to authorized recipients.

A concise report presenting significant intelligence developments within a specified period or subject area.

A report describing the current operational situation, significant developments, and relevant changes.

A SITREP primarily describes the current situation; an intelligence estimate interprets information and assesses likely developments.

A visual representation of known or suspected relationships among people, organizations, events, locations, or other entities.

The chronological organization of events to identify sequences, relationships, inconsistencies, and potential patterns.

Examining repeated characteristics or trends in incidents, locations, methods, or activities.

Access to sensitive intelligence should be limited to authorized persons whose official duties require it.

To identify information requiring protection and prescribe appropriate handling and access controls under applicable rules.

Restricting access to particular information or operations to personnel with specific authorization and operational need.

To document authorized access, changes, handling, and dissemination for accountability and information security.

Intelligence activities must respect constitutional protections, including privacy, due process, and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Personal data processing must comply with applicable Data Privacy Act requirements and lawful exceptions.

No. Multiple reports originating from the same underlying source do not constitute independent corroboration.

Confirmation bias, which can undermine the accuracy and objectivity of intelligence conclusions.