Specialist Crime
Met Intelligence Bureau
Who we are
The Met Intelligence Bureau comprises various teams which co-ordinate intelligence activities for the Metropolitan Police Service. The Unit’s focus is to provide enhanced intelligence for operational activity and provide analytical capabilities with regard to serious and organised crime. It also acts as a support intelligence service to the Metropolitan Police Service.
What we do
Recording, Evaluation and Dissemination (R.E.D.)
The 24/7 Intelligence Support Team not only provides fast-time intelligence
in relation to serious and critical incidents for the MPS, but also provides
this service on a national and international basis. The team’s primary
role is to supply quality intelligence, when and where required, which
is drawn from numerous intelligence databases held by the MPS. The Intelligence
Support Team receives, develops and disseminates intelligence at the request
of MPS units. The office has partnerships with outside agencies, which
it seeks to develop and enhance for the benefit of all MPS operations
tasked against serious and organised crime.
Operation Artemis is part of the Intelligence Support
Team. Its core function is developing intelligence of people wanted by
the MPS for murder and other serious crimes, with an emphasis on working
in partnership.
Crimestoppers is the designated point of contact between
the Metropolitan Police Service and the general public on the anonymous
telephone line 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers enables the police to identify
and arrest criminals who have committed, or are about to commit, crime,
with information passed anonymously from members of the public.
SCD Operations Centre operates a 24-hour reserve and
operations room for the benefit of the Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD).
It acts as a focal point of contact for all SCD officers and staff. The
Operations Centre has at all times detectives with a child abuse investigation
specialist and a communications officer. It co-ordinates and facilitates
SCD's operational support, providing a fast time link between proactivity
and intelligence requirements and the tracking of all critical incidents
involving SCD.
Research, Development and Analysis (R.D.A.)
The Intelligence Development Team provides intelligence support and analysis
for serious crime, drugs, firearms and organised crime within communities,
as well as homicide. A strategic element within the Intelligence Development
Team examines and analyses emerging crimes, as well as any threat posed
by new crimes that may affect the MPS remit, ensuring priorities are current
and appropriately dealt with.
The Assessment Team is responsible for producing documents
which provide detail on the current intelligence picture for London in
order to enable the Met’s resources to be prioritised appropriately.
The Forensic Intelligence Team is part of the MIB’s Specialist
Support function. The team gathers intelligence on crime scenes, ranging
from burglary to drugs and gun crime. They identify crimes linked by forensic
evidence (DNA and fingerprints) in order to establish when the same person
has committed a number of offences.
The Wildlife Crime Team is also part of the MIB’s Specialist
Support function. The team collates information on criminal acts against
wildlife and the importation and use of items from prohibited animal species.
Through Borough Liaison Officers, it provides an operational response
to this type of crime.
Other Specialist Support that is provided by the MIB includes Financial
Intelligence, concerned with seizing the assets of criminals, and intelligence
support to Major Events, such as Notting Hill Carnival and May Day demonstrations.
Telecommunications Intelligence
The Telecommunications Intelligence function is the Association of Chief Police Officers’ designated single point of contact between the MPS and the UK’s telecommunications industry. This team processes in excess of 115,000 requests every year. The team provides assistance with subscriber identity and account details, itemised billing and other specialist services for serious crime investigations or critical incidents.
Management and Business Support
The Management and Business Supportfunctions are responsible for the management of resources and operational activity within the MIB. They ensure that the teams within the MIB deliver effective performance in the provision of intelligence services to the rest of the MPS.
The SCD Co-ordinating and Tasking Office oversees and manages all tasking to, within and from SCD. This office serves as a secretariat to the fortnightly SCD tasking process. It also provides advice on tasking issues and completion of paperwork.