Metropolitan Police

Guide to procedure

Challenge: The police were launching a new drug-testing procedure in police stations. Although straightforward in practice, the procedure had proved tricky to express in diagrammatic form because of a multitude of options and eventualities.

Solution: After intensive analysis of the communications problem, Brett-Lesage found a way to simplify the central flow diagram dramatically. With intelligent use of colour the several users’ roles were clearly distinguished, while optimum use of space boosted clarity and readability to a marked extent.

Results: The Metropolitan Police Drugs Directorate is delighted with the professionalism and clarity of the document. Its investment in design has resulted in an effective professional tool that is helping national Police Forces to save approximately £20m per year by use of the new procedure.