How we define intelligence
The NCA is an intelligence-led agency driven by a central intelligence hub. This provides a single picture of all the threats from serious and organised crime. This collective intelligence directly informs the decisions of the NCA, allowing it to have maximum impact when it comes to fighting crime.
Intelligence is information that is received or collected to answer specific questions on who, what, where, when, how and why organised crime operates in the UK.
At the heart of the NCA sits the National Tasking & Coordination function, which has an overarching view of all threats and operations, ensuring that resource is deployed effectively.
The NCA looks for information in three broad areas:
Where our information comes from
The NCA gathers information, including intelligence, through its operations, and via other law enforcement agencies such as the police, other government agencies and the private sector.
The NCA only collects information to undertake its statutory or other legal functions. The gathering, sharing and storing of this information and intelligence by the NCA is governed by legislation, the criminal justice system and strict internal safeguards to ensure all information is secure.