Situation and Activity Study in Intelligence to support Spanish public Security.
Since its development, the US concept of “Homeland Security” has rapidly spread throughout all the worlds’ governments. It has extended without a clear understanding of its strategic and doctrinal significance and without defining the systemic and operational models with which to work to forge new organisations, operative procedures and support infrastructures.
Put simply but concisely we can define “Homeland Security” as a "National Security concept based on the coherent integration of Intelligence, Security and Operations which aims at efficiently and rapidly being able to anticipate and respond to any threat, internal or external, be they deliberately provoked or provoked by natural causes" (Martin Juarez 2008).
The US “Homeland Security” doctrinal concept is based on a unified vision, centred on the nation's security, prevention of potential threats, the preventive and active combat to real external threats, rather than a cooperative approach between countries and focus on citizens and their real threats. The European model, more specifically the Spanish model, must focus on the safety of its citizens (CITIZEN SECURITY) be based on an integrated Security Intelligence closely connected to the elements that provide security and those responsible for neutralizing the real threats in constant cooperation with other countries.
The Spanish state is currently making a concerted effort, in all aspects associated with security, remarkably improving our ability to prevent and combat threats to citizens safety, however these efforts are being realised without defining a systematic model or a forecast being made which would allow for improvement the future use of existing assets (personnel and infrastructure) and thus permitting the decision makers to have a precise view of the situation and the short and medium term possible scenarios.
Focusing on the Security Intelligence model, a multitude of aspects which with little effort would improve the overall global system and its contribution to security and operations. In the first place, in contrast to countries, such as the United Kingdom, among others, we don’t have a Security Intelligence model or a common procedural framework. In the case of the United Kingdom they have the (National Intelligence Model) NIM and the Intelligence Led (common model for law enforcement) The availability of these models allow the establishment of solid training and organisation of the different intelligence cells, contrary to what is believed by some the mission of the intelligence cell doesn’t vary the common model, it only qualifies and specifies it.
There are currently four state Security Intelligence organisations, the Intelligence department of the National Police Corps, Intelligence Service of the Civil Guard, the more recently created, National Antiterrorism Coordination Centre and Organised Crime Intelligence Centre. Each produces intelligence by using their own means or starting from the information provided by others. The current situation is that there is no master plan and therefore the reports produced have gaps in the information and are lacking in the objectives they analyse. On the other hand there is a combination of intelligence needs that aren’t covered by any of these agencies.
National Security Intelligence System analysis and diagnosis.
After an exhaustive study of the situation of the National Security Intelligence System and a comparative study with countries of our surroundings. The conclusion can be reached that we have worked much and well in improving this system. Despite this, there are a number of observable deficiencies in our country and others that a set of solutions would allow us to have an efficient system, advanced and of use for the public security.
Essentially the deficiencies in the Spanish Security Intelligence System are the following:
Concrete actions for improving National Intelligence System of support to Security.
Once the detected global deficiencies are set out, I propose a series of measures and actions to be effectuated by the current legislature which will allow Spain to lead its own concept of the Intelligence. Exportable within the European framework and making the National Security Intelligence System concept explicit.
With respect to the organisation projects:
With respect to the infrastructure project:
Put simply but concisely we can define “Homeland Security” as a "National Security concept based on the coherent integration of Intelligence, Security and Operations which aims at efficiently and rapidly being able to anticipate and respond to any threat, internal or external, be they deliberately provoked or provoked by natural causes" (Martin Juarez 2008).
The US “Homeland Security” doctrinal concept is based on a unified vision, centred on the nation's security, prevention of potential threats, the preventive and active combat to real external threats, rather than a cooperative approach between countries and focus on citizens and their real threats. The European model, more specifically the Spanish model, must focus on the safety of its citizens (CITIZEN SECURITY) be based on an integrated Security Intelligence closely connected to the elements that provide security and those responsible for neutralizing the real threats in constant cooperation with other countries.
The Spanish state is currently making a concerted effort, in all aspects associated with security, remarkably improving our ability to prevent and combat threats to citizens safety, however these efforts are being realised without defining a systematic model or a forecast being made which would allow for improvement the future use of existing assets (personnel and infrastructure) and thus permitting the decision makers to have a precise view of the situation and the short and medium term possible scenarios.
Focusing on the Security Intelligence model, a multitude of aspects which with little effort would improve the overall global system and its contribution to security and operations. In the first place, in contrast to countries, such as the United Kingdom, among others, we don’t have a Security Intelligence model or a common procedural framework. In the case of the United Kingdom they have the (National Intelligence Model) NIM and the Intelligence Led (common model for law enforcement) The availability of these models allow the establishment of solid training and organisation of the different intelligence cells, contrary to what is believed by some the mission of the intelligence cell doesn’t vary the common model, it only qualifies and specifies it.
There are currently four state Security Intelligence organisations, the Intelligence department of the National Police Corps, Intelligence Service of the Civil Guard, the more recently created, National Antiterrorism Coordination Centre and Organised Crime Intelligence Centre. Each produces intelligence by using their own means or starting from the information provided by others. The current situation is that there is no master plan and therefore the reports produced have gaps in the information and are lacking in the objectives they analyse. On the other hand there is a combination of intelligence needs that aren’t covered by any of these agencies.
National Security Intelligence System analysis and diagnosis.
After an exhaustive study of the situation of the National Security Intelligence System and a comparative study with countries of our surroundings. The conclusion can be reached that we have worked much and well in improving this system. Despite this, there are a number of observable deficiencies in our country and others that a set of solutions would allow us to have an efficient system, advanced and of use for the public security.
Essentially the deficiencies in the Spanish Security Intelligence System are the following:
- The intelligence produced is essentially operational in nature and there is a deficiency in the production of strategic intelligence which is an essential component for decision makers in the political and law enforcement spheres.
- The intelligence focus is aimed more at the elaboration rather than at the production of systematic intelligence. This implies that a greater number of information gathering and handling resources are necessary than for the key element of the intelligence process which is analysis.
- In the area of Intelligence there isn’t a modern and common training model which allows members of law enforcement to familiarise themselves with the procedures, techniques and advanced tools in the matter and that allows for the constant recycling of the components of the different units.
- The dissemination and managements of intelligence reports for senior managers and accountable politicians is archaic and doesn’t allow for the intelligence to be received within a useful decision making timeframe.
- Useful Intelligence is available for the individuals responsible for guaranteeing public security, however it isn’t disseminated.
- Public security intelligence is nonexistent or it shines by its absence.
- The intelligence sharing mechanism can be improved.
- A real time situational knowledge system which would allow politicians and law enforcement decision makers to know what is happening and what could happen, with a precise and panoramic vision, doesn’t exist.
- The interoperability of the intelligence systems is improving but is lacking a common criterion in regards to establishing the Technological Police Intelligence system model.
- Units within Law enforcement which allow for the handleling and analysing all the existing audio-visual, open and closed source information, of Image Intelligence doesn’t exists.
- The coordination between Intelligence units within the Ministry of the interior and other agencies is not clearly defined.
Concrete actions for improving National Intelligence System of support to Security.
Once the detected global deficiencies are set out, I propose a series of measures and actions to be effectuated by the current legislature which will allow Spain to lead its own concept of the Intelligence. Exportable within the European framework and making the National Security Intelligence System concept explicit.
With respect to the organisation projects:
- Creation of citizen-oriented Security Intelligence doctrine and model which will allow establishing a common way of understanding and proceeding in matters of Intelligence.
- Preparation of the Intelligence Master Plan which would allow establishing the intelligence requirements in relation to all real threats for citizens’ security.
With respect to the infrastructure project:
- Creation and deployment by The Secretary of State of a constantly evolving technological and methodological system for training and refreshing intelligence (National Intelligence Knowledge and e-learning Portal).
- Creation and deployment of a System of Informative Superiority and early Warning based on real-time situational awareness (SITUATIONAL AWARENESS) of the intelligence available about the national picture of threats for government and police officials.
- Definition and creation of Citizen Security Intelligence Model and its exploitation in local, autonomic and national police bodies.
- Implementation of Citizen Security Strategic Intelligence cell within the Secretary of State which will allow for the realisation of continuous evaluation of the situation on the basis of the information provided by the different police bodies.
- Creation and development of a “Think Tank” aimed at researching and developing, within the European framework, the initiatives and debates about the Citizen Security Intelligence.
