Exploring International Law enforcement Information Exchange

Whilst improvements in mobility and technology have created more opportunities for criminals to offend across physical and digital borders, this mobility has created investigative obstacles for law enforcement. The main obstacle has been the inability to share information systematically, which remains fragmented at regional, national and international levels. This has often led to high profile intelligence failures. The high-cost responses, such as more staff, governance, bureaucracy and legislation, have failed to eradicate them. Effective information sharing continues to be problematic, reducing public safety, impeding investigations and hindering efficiency. This research, supported by UKRI, will conduct an independent analysis in relation to the landscape of information sharing and provide recommendations as to how it can be improved.

The fellowship will seek to answer the research question: what are the critical factors underlying effective information exchange between international law enforcement? It aims to critically assess how information can be efficiently exchanged between law enforcement, specifically between the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It will examine barriers to information exchange and assess how technology can support effective information exchange between international law enforcement to assess risk, protect the public and rapidly disrupt transnational crime.