National Decision Making Model

What is the National Decision-Making Model (NDM)

The national decision model (NDM) is suitable for all decisions and should be used by everyone in policing. It can be applied:

Decision makers can use the NDM to structure a rationale of what they did during an incident and why.

2. Model Contents

The NDM can be broken into 6 parts which can fit into the mnemonic CIAPOAR:

C- Code of Ethics;

I- Gather Information and intelligence;

A- Assess threats and risks and develop a working strategy;

P-Consider powers and policy;

O- Identify options and contingencies;

R- Take action and review what happened

2.1 Code of Ethics

The NDM puts the Code of Ethics at the heart of all police decision making. This distinguishes the NDM from other decision-making models and recognises the need for all police decisions to be consistent with the principles and standards of behaviour set out in the Code.

2.2 Gather Information and Intelligence

During this stage the decision maker defines the situation (ie, defines what is happening or has happened) and clarifies matters relating to any initial information and intelligence. 

2.3 Assess threats and risk and develop and working stratergy

During this stage, the decision-making should assess all threats identified in the previous stage and risk assess them.  They should establish if these risks require immediate action based on the seriousness and probability of harm being caused. Once this has happened they must develop a working strategy to develop the following stages. 

2.4 Powers and Policy

In this stage, the decision maker should consider the powers, policies and legislation that could apply to the situation they're faced with. 

2.5 Identify Options and Contingencies

This stage involves considering the different ways to make a particular decision (or resolve a situation) with the least risk of harm.

2.6 Take action and review what happened

This stage has two distinct steps. At the action step, decision makers are required to make and implement appropriate decisions. The review step requires decision makers to review and reflect on what happened once an incident is over.