Our web-application helps you to better structure your descriptions and to better memorize your observations about human targets, places, materials and objects, etc. Try it now!

Fast and immediately operational, this method of structuring observation was created during the Cold War. The tool can be used on a daily basis and by trainers.

Examples of OBSERVABLE.COM features

Use a photo or video for each observation study

Upload your photo, add a Vimeo/Youtube link or train on more than 200 targets with various themes. The database will evolve according to the needs of the different professions

Launch flash previews of random images to be described to stimulate your perception and visual memory

Imagine that you had to see your target only 1/30th of a second. Now, describe what you remembered... Practice as much as you can to improve your perception, synthesis and visual memory skills

Observational skills are an essential asset for any police officer, whether on patrol, investigating or responding to an incident. It enables them to gather valuable information about people, places and events, which can be decisive in solving a case or making a decision in a crisis situation. In this article, we'll look at why observation skills are so important in the police profession, and how they can be improved and trained.

1. Identify critical clues and details. Observational skills enable us to notice details and clues that may be relevant to an investigation or intervention. This can be a physical clue, such as a fingerprint, a witness, a tire track or a weapon, or a verbal clue, such as a contradiction in the words of a witness or suspect.
   
2. Analyze and interpret information. Observational skills are not limited to simply perceiving things, but also involve the ability to analyze them and draw logical conclusions. For example, a police officer may notice a certain tension between family members and deduce that there could be a domestic problem at the root of an altercation.
   
3. Determine intentions and behaviors. Observational skills also enable us to understand the intentions and behaviors of people we meet, whether suspects, witnesses or victims. This can be useful in assessing a person's degree of danger, or in knowing how to approach or question them.
   
4. Anticipating and forecasting events. Observational skills help to predict and anticipate potential events, based on observed clues and behaviors. For example, a police officer may notice signs of nervousness in a suspect and deduce that he or she may be armed or ready to flee.
   
5. Communicate accurately and objectively. Observational skills are also useful for communicating accurately and objectively with colleagues and superiors. An intervention or investigation report needs to be precise and complete, and observational skills enable important details to be noted and reported clearly and concisely.
   
6. Managing crisis situations. In a crisis situation, observation skills can be decisive in making the right decisions and managing the situation effectively. For example, a policeman may notice a detail that enables him to foil a trap or protect a victim.
   
7. Improving intervention safety. A keen sense of observation can also help to improve the safety of interventions, by helping to spot potential hazards and take appropriate measures to avoid them.
   
8. Facilitate cooperation with other departments. Observational skills are also useful for working in teams and cooperating with other departments, noting each other's strengths and weaknesses and adapting accordingly.
   
9. Improve survey quality. As part of an investigation, observation can play a decisive role in gathering the evidence and clues needed to solve a case. It also enables us to better understand the facts and to reconstruct events accurately and objectively.
   
10. Strengthening the credibility of the police. Last but not least, observational skills help to reinforce the credibility and confidence of the public in the police, enabling them to carry out investigations and interventions in a professional and rigorous manner.

Observational skills are therefore an essential asset for any police officer, which allows him to better understand the situations and people he encounters, to make the right decisions and to succeed in his missions. It can be improved and trained through training on OBSERVABLE and regular practice, but also by developing curiosity and analytical skills. Other qualities such as patience, perseverance and empathy can also be useful in reinforcing a police officer's sense of observation.