Section 1 presents four chapters that address the details, outcomes, user needs and background theoretical ideas behind a large-scale research aand development project in this domain (The Odyssey Project).  This project explored the challenges of establishing a Pan-European ballistics and crime information intelligence network.  It represents an example of the type of system that is likely to become commonly used by Law Enforcement Agencies in the near future. Many of the challenges are not technical but organisational, legal, economic, social and political.  Sections 2 and 3 therefore present wider commentaries.  Section 2 explores other research and development projects that attempt to exploit the power of contemporary ICT systems to support Law Enforcement Agencies in many aspects of their work including investigations, data analysis and presentation, identification, training and crime prevention.  Section 3 takes a look at the social and organisational issues around aspects of crime prevention, crime detection and policing - with a view to the role of information and communication technologies in thesecontexts.