What We Know (and Don’t Know) About the National Decision Model

The National Decision Model (NDM) was developed by the College of Policing to standardise and improve decision-making within police forces in England and Wales. The model provides structure and encourages ethical, defensible decision-making, but risks becoming a “tick-box” exercise if not applied reflectively and dynamically. Based on expertise research, expert officers may apply the NDM principles intuitively, while newer officers benefit from its explicit structure. Training should reflect these differences. Despite a decade of use, there is limited empirical evidence that the NDM improves decision quality or reduces bias. More research is needed to ensure the NDM truly supports effective, ethical policing. Ongoing evaluation, through research, is essential to refine the model and ensure it continues to meet the complex demands of modern policing.