Part 1 21 Useful guidance on the information that can be lawfully gathered and the conditions under which this information can be processed and stored should be spelled out in domestic legislation and regulations, in line with international human rights standards. Intelligence systems are not effective if they: • do not support operational policing; • do not assist strategic decision-making; and • do not give operational police teams information that they can act on to prevent and detect crime. Such intelligence systems, filled with out-of-context and outdated information, are also incompatible with human rights standards, in particular the right to privacy. As in so many other areas of law enforcement work, applying human rights standards not only allows officers to work in compliance with international and domestic law, but also makes them more effective in their work. It is, therefore, crucial to look at various elements of processing information and intelligence to assess the operational benefits of applying human rights standards at each stage. 1.1.1 Gathering Information Information is collected by law enforcement agencies from a variety of sources, some of which will be routine (e.g., the examination of operational databases and crime recording systems) and some that is volunteered (e.g., by members of the public, informants, or domestic or foreign law enforcement agencies). Information may be gathered “overtly” from “open sources” available to the public and “covertly” through the lawful use of police methods, such as surveillance and informants. It is necessary that domestic laws and regulations specify precisely the powers, methods and conditions under which law enforcement officers can gather information. Handling human sources of information Human rights are usually regarded as principally concerning the relationship between the individual and the state. They aim to ensure that the power of the state is exercised in a responsible and accountable manner and that the state is held responsible and accountable for violations. Law enforcement agencies, representing the state, have a duty to prevent crime and offences