Towards a model for the integration of knowledge management in law enforcement agencies

Abstract

As law enforcement agencies are presented with ever growing repositories of data upon which to conduct their intelligence and investigative initiatives, the requirement to effectively manage knowledge grows. The following paper explores the use of knowledge management within law enforcement in terms of defining knowledge in policing, the various forms in which knowledge exists in society and organisations, and the potential barriers to the integration of knowledge management practices in the law enforcement domain. The paper clarifies the role of knowledge in organisational behaviour and the rationale behind its importance in contemporary law enforcement practices before discussing the concepts around practical scenarios, and outlining a number of example approaches to integration.