Law enforcement officers do NOT undertake HUMINT operations in the way the term is traditionally understood, and commonly used within law enforcement. There are good reasons to stop misusing the term.
The term HUMINT originated within the U.S. military in the 1970s as a broad category encompassing a wide range of human‑based collection methods, including surveillance, witness interviews, undercover activities, espionage and human source handling, and the interrogation or debriefing of prisoners of war.
In contrast, these activities represent distinct disciplines within law enforcement. Each requires specialised training and is performed under different legal and operational constraints. An officer who excels at interviewing may not be suited to surveillance work, and not every officer has the skills necessary for undercover duties or the management of human sources.
Law enforcement must also adhere to strict legislative requirements that do not apply in military contexts. For example, in the United States, officers must provide Miranda warnings before interviewing suspects—an obligation that does not exist in military operations.
For clarity and effectiveness, law enforcement agencies should treat the activities often grouped under HUMINT as separate, clearly defined functions:
Human Source Management: The structured handling of human sources, including confidential informants—a term that itself is often misunderstood.
Undercover Operations: The use of officers operating under assumed identities, to collect information and evidence.
Surveillance: Mobile or static observation of subjects by trained personnel.
Witness and Victim Interviews: Structured interviews conducted by trained officers to gather evidence.
Suspect Interviews: Evidence‑based interviews aimed at establishing the truth, conducted in accordance with legal requirements.
Using the term HUMINT in a law enforcement context creates confusion and obscures the true objectives of these specialised activities. Unlike the military, law enforcement has a fundamentally different mandate and operates within a different legal environment. Clear terminology supports effective practice.
Those seeking training should ensure they understand precisely which discipline is being taught by the provider and if it meets the needs of their agency. And those using it in law enforcement should stop. Words matter.
So when someone asks do HSM training provide course on HUMINT the short answer is yes. A more helpful answer would be discuss with us what you want your staff to learn. We can teach all the disciplines mentioned above at the appropriate level for your staff and in a context that is relevant to your staff.