‘Futures’ is often used as a collective term for approaches, tools and techniques that are available to us to develop foresight capability.

• Foresight refers to the specific act of applying futures tools, processes or methods, to explore and anticipate what may happen.
• Horizon scanning is one technique to systematically identify potential threats, risks, emerging issues and opportunities.

Futures thinking can help to:

•  Identify patterns of change, emerging trends, surprises, and disruptors earlier, allowing more time to prepare and respond effectively. This might involve proactive identification of opportunities or innovations to exploit, or potential threats for early intervention.
• Move to a more anticipatory culture that is less reactive, and enhances public confidence.
• Explore multiple versions of the future (or scenarios) to assess the resilience of operating models and strategies, as well as to identify anticipated capability gaps and likely demand implications.
• Challenge thinking and move beyond business as usual assumptions.
• Focus on the external context to understand implications of changes globally and in our operating environment.
• Identify actions to take in the short term to move towards a preferred future.

We aim to develop a law enforcement community that can enhance our future knowledge and understanding in order to consider threats and opportunities, and provide support to decision makers to respond accordingly. 

We have an active Futures community across forces, academica and industry, with strong links to Futures teams across wider Government. For further information or to get involved please get in touch via [email protected]