Introduction

The use of sound, quality information and intelligence processes are essential to identifying and limiting the activities of those committing crime and disorder and tackling the problems which adversely affect community safety and quality of life.

Information gathering and intelligence lies at the heart of business planning by taking into account local and national government objectives, required levels of performance and value for money principles. The core ingredient in successful business planning is information and understanding on five key issues:

• An accurate picture of the business
• What is actually happening on the ‘ground’
• The nature and extent of the problems
• The trends
• Where the main threats lie.

Confident and effective information exchange is the key to multi-agency working. It relies on good relations between partners, and on mutual trust. The effectiveness of information exchange arrangements is a reflection of the effectiveness of the partnership as a whole.

There are many good reasons for exchanging information:

• Combining information resources creates a more accurate picture of what is going on in the local area
  
• Better problem analysis and sound decision-making flow from the possession of good intelligence and accurate data.
  
• Key decisions on how to invest and allocate resources will be more effective and easily justified, if they are information based.
  
• A combination of sound intelligence and effective interventions targeting crime and disorder in an area, reduces victimisation, removes fear and benefits all sectors of a community, except the criminal.

The case for sharing information to achieve these objectives is indisputable. This toolkit must be considered in conjunction with the other crime reduction toolkits before developing particular strategies and action plans.

This Toolkit covers two main areas: analytical techniques and products for effective intelligence/ information; and processes for effective information sharing.  Work will be carried out to improve the content and ensure focus on the needs of crime and disorder reduction partnerships. The effectiveness of the toolkits relies on your help. We very much welcome contributions and advice on how to improve the content and approach. We also particularly welcome examples of good local practice which has been shown to work. Details on how you can improve this site are available at "Reporting innovation".