Tradecraft to Standards—Moving Criminal Intelligence Practice to a Profession through the Development of a Criminal Intelligence Training and Development Continuum

Abstract

Abstract Australian governments, academia, and law enforcement agencies have recognized the need to improve intelligence capabilities in order to adapt to the increasingly complex criminal and security environments. In response, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other Australian policing agencies have adopted several reform measures to improve intelligence capability support. While some have focused on developing specific criminal intelligence doctrine, others have sought to improve more challenging aspects of intelligence capability such as analytical and field collection workforce planning. The complexity of the current and emerging criminal environment and a growing professionalization of policing practice more broadly has resulted in a uniquely new strategic approach to developing the analytical and field collection workforce. This article surveys the development of an Australian Criminal Intel Training and Development Continuum (CITDC). The continuum is an end-to-end continuing professional development framework for criminal intelligence analysts and field intelligence officers that monitor proficiency, competence, and knowledge achievement through pre-entry aptitude testing, rigorous class room, and workplace mentoring. The continuum is designed at the post-graduate level and articulates with Charles Sturt University’s MA (Intelligence Analysis). The article argues that both the philosophy of rigorous standards and the learning underpinning the continuum are having demonstrable and positive outcomes for intelligence practitioners and the investigative workforce they support.