An Operational Analysis of County Lines and Serious Organised Crime Data From the Police National Database Using i2 Analyst’s Notebook

Abstract

The Police National Database (PND) is an invaluable National source of cross-border intelligence, yet its data has historically been underexploited for core tasks of network and criminal business analysis. This operational analysis by the National County Lines Coordination Centre explores the investigative scale, depth, results and efficiency benefits of importing and analysing PND data in i2 Analyst’s Notebook (ANB). PND exports of East Midlands, West Midlands and Police Scotland data were imported, merged and deconflicted. The resulting analysis produced several findings using existing data that, while adequately recorded, had not previously been understood in a Regional and National context. These results included identifying vulnerable children and adults, the criminal business model responsible for exploiting them, and the best opportunities for intervention and disruption – as well as identifying previously unknown links between Organised Crime Groups (OCG) and County Lines, improving Police understanding of their criminality and  exploitation. The analysis highlights the investigative opportunities afforded when the value of existing intelligence is maximized using appropriate tools and tradecraft. The i2 tools and tradecraft for PND described herein have been recommended as best practice to all Analysts in the National County Lines Coordination Centre Network.