Which of the following best describes the management style associated with intelligence-led policing?

The management style most associated with intelligence-led policing is the top-down approach. This style emphasizes a hierarchy in decision-making, where senior management sets the strategic direction based on analyzed intelligence data. In intelligence-led policing, leaders utilize data-driven insights to shape policies and operational tactics, ensuring that law enforcement priorities align with broader objectives of crime reduction and community safety.

In this framework, leadership is crucial for interpreting intelligence and determining resource allocations, which can create a structured response to crime trends and emerging threats. This contrasts with other management styles where decision-making might flow from the bottom up or exhibit more decentralized characteristics, which would not provide the same level of coordinated strategy that top-down management facilitates in the context of intelligence-led policing.

Additionally, while a horizontal approach can foster collaboration and communication, it may not provide the necessary authority or decisiveness in setting defined objectives that a top-down style typically affords, especially in a law enforcement environment where clear directives can significantly influence outcomes.