Systems thinking and complexity science for policing [Ref 2.08]

This action research project introduced police officers and staff to the basic ideas of systems thinking and complexity science, and enabled them to develop a practical understanding of the theory by applying it to real problems from their professional experience.

Individuals and groups engaged in criminal activity form many intertwined networks whose emergent dynamic behaviour can be very complicated and unpredictable. Yet even in this complexity there are dynamic patterns that can be recognised to inform action and policy, and by using a complex systems approach implicit knowledge can be formalised into models to make the patterns clearer and their detection more reliable. The project:

• gave hands-on experience of using the ideas in practical policing
• developed simple gaming systems to allow interactive explorations
• explored hands-on how Big Data can be used by teams in policing organised workshops with teams developing and using computer models to identify areas for further investigation and research.

Outputs