The pre-requisites of any action

If these methods are to be effective some key elements need to be in place: -

It is important that each police force develops an intelligence model to streamline the gathering and handling of sources of intelligence and to integrate these, across Basic Command Units, to enable effective actions. There needs to be full confidence in the quality of the intelligence that supports the operation. (Maynard W 1996 Drugs trafficking Enforcement: examples of good practice Police Research Group Special Interest series: Paper 8: restricted to police use only.)

Attention should be paid to the aftermath of operations and each operation should be appraised for the potential to:

• Create instability in the local market
• Lead to immediate public order problems
• Have an impact on other crimes
• Create treatment demands
• Simply displace to a place where dealing has worse effects or to a method that is harder to dislodge

A Community Impact Analysis is essential for any operation to estimate the potential damage that might result, particularly in relation to community reaction or violence.

Some other factors: -

• Treatment. Some Police forces have experimented with enhanced arrest referral provision to accompany major operations, arranging for extra counsellors or other drug workers to be available. Some have experimented with outreach services in areas or estates affected by operations, to encourage partners, siblings and suppliers purchasers to access treatment. This again points to the need to apply multi-agency approaches to problems in discrete areas.
• The required resources – how much surveillance or specialist technical resource is needed? How is this obtained?
• How will the intelligence handling be conducted after the operation? What arrangements are there for managing intelligence and feeding this on to FORCE INTELLIGENCE BUREAUX?
• The potential for weapons to be used to defend persons and property.
• The full range of powers available in criminal and civil law