National Decision Model

The National Decision Model (NDM) is a structured framework used by police officers in England and Wales to support ethical, consistent, and justifiable decision-making across all aspects of policing. It provides a common approach for assessing situations, identifying appropriate actions, and evaluating outcomes. The model centres on a core of ethical principles, guided by the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics. It ensures that every decision reflects integrity, fairness, and accountability. The NDM consists of six stages that officers follow in a dynamic, cyclical manner:

Gather information and intelligence

Understand the facts, the environment, and any potential risks involved.

Assess threat and risk

Evaluate the situation to determine risks to individuals, the public, and police.

Consider powers and policy

Reflect on the legal powers and policies applicable to the situation.

Identify options and contingencies

Explore possible courses of action and prepare for alternative outcomes.

Take action and review what happened

Act decisively while continuously reassessing the situation.

The Code of Ethics

The foundation that reinforces professional conduct and ethical decision-making throughout the process. The NDM is versatile, applied to everything from operational planning and spontaneous incidents to tactical deployments, such as the use of force. It enables officers to adapt to complex and high-pressure situations while ensuring decisions are proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary​.