Central Scotland Police

Analytical Unit

Crime analysts are responsible for researching and analysing crime and police databases in order to identify crime problem areas (hotspots), crime patterns, crime trends, and likely offenders. This information is then used by senior police officers to provide an intelligence led approach to policing in the community.

All analytical work is governed by the National Intelligence Model, which is a national business model for law enforcement. It supports both the Strategic and Tactical level of policing within the force through the production of four key intelligence/analytical products: Strategic Assessment, Tactical Assessment, Problem Profile and Subject Profile.

A Principal Analyst is head of the analytical profession and is ultimately responsible for overseeing all analytical support to the force. She is also responsible for the training and development of all analysts.

Three analysts which include a Senior Analyst, are based within the Analytical Unit at headquarters and analyse crime and incidents at a force level. Four further analysts are based within the area commands and provide this support at a local level.

The Strategic Assessment is currently produced by the Principal Analyst. This is a yearly document, produced in August with a six monthly update in February. It examines the strategic (longer term) threat to the force in relation to policing and community issues. This document links in with the Force Police Performance Framework and The Force Strategic Plan and recommends the policing priorities for the next 6-12 months through the setting of the Force Control Strategy and Intelligence Requirement.

The Tactical Assessment is produced monthly for the Tactical Tasking and Coordination Group (TT&CG) meeting which is an operational meeting where the current policing priorities are discussed. This meeting is chaired at a force level by the ACC and at an area command level by the respective area commander. The tactical assessment examines the current force/area command performance, crime picture and any threats which may affect policing in the coming month(s).

Problem Profiles and Subject Profiles are commissioned through the Tasking and Coordination process in order to examine further problem areas and notable individuals respectively.