National Decision Model (NDM)
The UK police framework for structuring decisions — six iterative steps around the Code of Ethics. Educational reference.
Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).
What is the National Decision Model (NDM)?
The National Decision Model (NDM) is the College of Policing's structured decision-making framework used across UK policing to guide operational and post-incident decisions. It has six iterative steps: (1) gather information and intelligence, (2) assess threat, risk and develop a working strategy, (3) consider powers and policy, (4) identify options and contingencies, (5) take action and review what happened. The Code of Ethics sits at the centre and is referenced through every step. The NDM is taught from initial training onwards and is used in PIP investigation, command decisions, body-worn-video reviews and misconduct accounting. This page is an educational reference — always follow your force policy, current APP and your supervision.
What the NDM is
The National Decision Model (NDM) is the UK police framework for structuring decisions, particularly in dynamic or pressured situations. The College of Policing describes it as "an iterative decision-making process that puts the values of the Code of Ethics at the heart of every decision". It applies to operational decisions, command decisions, and routine professional judgement.
The six steps
- Gather information and intelligence. What do I know? What can I find out? What's the source and reliability of each piece of information? What's missing?
- Assess threat and risk and develop a working strategy. What harm could result? To whom? How likely? What working strategy will reduce risk in the time available?
- Consider powers and policy. What legal powers exist? What does force policy say? What ethical considerations apply?
- Identify options and contingencies. What can I do? What are the consequences of each option? What are the contingencies if the chosen option fails or the situation evolves?
- Take action and review what happened. Act decisively. Then review — did the action work? What changed? Cycle back through the model with the new information.
The model is iterative — you cycle through it continuously as a situation evolves, not once in sequence. Particularly under time pressure, decisions are often made on incomplete information; the NDM is a framework for accepting that and structuring how you adjust as more information arrives.
The Code of Ethics at the centre
The NDM places the Code of Ethics at the centre because every step is meant to be informed by ethical values:
- Honesty and Integrity
- Authority, Respect and Courtesy
- Equality and Diversity
- Use of Force
- Orders and Instructions
- Duties and Responsibilities
- Confidentiality
- Fitness for Duty
- Discreditable Conduct
- Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct
How the NDM is used post-incident
In post-incident review — debriefs, complaint investigations, IOPC enquiries, and misconduct proceedings — the NDM provides the structure investigators use to assess whether the officer's decisions were reasonable at the time, on the information they had. An officer who can articulate their decision-making against the NDM is in a much stronger position than one who can't. The model is therefore not just a planning tool but a reporting tool.
Related frameworks
- THRIVE — used at incident triage to assess Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement.
- JESIP — Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles for multi-agency response.
- SAFECOM / IIMARCH — operational briefing structures used alongside the NDM.
Important
This page is educational reference. Officers making operational decisions should follow their force policy, their training, supervision, current law, and the College of Policing APP — not summaries on independent websites. The NDM is a framework, not a substitute for force-specific instructions.
Related pages
Official NDM sources
BlueLineHub is independent and unofficial. Always verify with the authoritative source below.
- Verify on official source
College of Policing — National Decision Model
The canonical NDM definition and guidance.
Last checked: May 2026 - Verify on official source
College of Policing — Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics that sits at the centre of the NDM.
Last checked: May 2026 - Verify on official source
College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice (APP)
Operational reference framework for UK policing.
Last checked: May 2026
Frequently asked
- What is the National Decision Model?
- The National Decision Model (NDM) is the UK police framework for structuring decisions, particularly under time pressure or in dynamic situations. It places the Code of Ethics at the centre and surrounds it with six iterative steps, designed to make decisions more transparent, justifiable and reviewable.
- What are the six steps?
- (1) Gather information and intelligence. (2) Assess threat and risk and develop a working strategy. (3) Consider powers and policy. (4) Identify options and contingencies. (5) Take action and review what happened. The model is iterative — you cycle through it as the situation evolves.
- What is the central Code of Ethics part?
- At the centre of the model sits the Code of Ethics — Honesty, Integrity, Authority/Respect/Courtesy, Equality and Diversity, Use of Force, Orders and Instructions, Duties, Confidentiality, Fitness for Duty, Discreditable Conduct, Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct. Every step of the NDM is meant to be informed by those values.
- When should the NDM be used?
- Anywhere a decision is being made. The College of Policing intends it to apply across operational and non-operational decisions. In post-incident review (e.g. complaints, debriefs, IOPC investigations), the model is the structure investigators use to assess whether reasonable decisions were made.
- Is the NDM the only model?
- No — JESIP (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles) and THRIVE (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement) are other operational frameworks. The NDM is the umbrella decision-making framework; the others sit within or alongside it.