An audience-centric approach recognises that people are at the heart of competition; it is their individual decisions and behaviours that determine how competition is conducted and resolved. UK forces, working with the rest of government must think and act accordingly.
Muli-culturalism means that the UK population in general is more present and active to significant influences from around the world. These ‘influences’ inspire—and, for some, manipulate—individuals and centralist communities’ values and interests, their beliefs, their partners, and their friends. Many issues can only be proactively resolved by pan-Government analysis and cooperation: the Integrated Operating Concept.
So, how does a Protect and/or Prevent force enhance its understanding of its ‘patch’ and when world events may cause an impact?
For local police in Woolwich, an area with a significant Somali population, it is a very different task to policing in Lewisham or Blackheath, where the population is comprised of more Turkish, Cypriot, Polish, French and Tamil-speaking communities. The areas are very different populations culturally despite being within an 8-mile radius and all of these communities have different start points.
Each community has brought, received, or carried different messages from their ‘home’ country, even if that link is two or three generations ago. They retain different customs and different life aims. Improved cultural understanding equips police forces with the critical cultural knowledge to understand how to communicate effectively with different communities from their perspectives.
For crime investigation, understanding collectivist and individualist societies is important as there is a distinct difference in how law enforcement should approach individuals from collective communities as opposed to individualist communities.
Part of this is also understanding that community shaping (both Protect and/or Prevent) through continuous relationship building is critical in stopping collectivist communities protecting those that commit crime purely because they are collectivists.
Understanding the collective psychology behind honour killings is essential, yet often overlooked. It is crucial to grasp why these acts occur and to recognise the significant role that concepts like honour, shame, and social reputation play in certain communities.
For effective public order policing, it is crucial to understand both the threats and opportunities presented by elements such as flags and symbols at demonstrations. This ensures that banned terrorist organisations cannot blend into crowds, spread their messages unchecked, or evade preventative action and sanctions.
It is also vital to shape the perceptions of law-abiding individuals who may be caught up in the euphoria of a movement, making them vulnerable to extremist information operations. Losing this battle in the cognitive policing space poses significant risks, as it allows hostile narratives to take root and influence public sentiment.
Finally, within the force itself, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural diversity is a game-changer for effective collaboration, retention, and recruitment. In a multicultural workforce, learning how to work optimally with colleagues from diverse backgrounds strengthens cohesion and operational effectiveness. Moreover, gaining insights from these colleagues—regardless of rank—about what drives and shapes their communities provides invaluable, real-world knowledge at no cost, serving as both advice and on-the-ground training.
At CDS Defence and Security, we deliver cultural foundation and cultural risk training for government employees at strategic, operational, and tactical levels. This training equips forces with the skills to enhance operational effectiveness through deeper cultural analysis, improved cultural understanding, and the development of cultural intelligence—ultimately enabling them to identify and manage cultural risks more effectively.