Predictive Policing Technology Arrests
A substitute to HUMINT local knowledge?
Recently British police officers took to the streets of Medway UK armed with maps and data supplied by the predictive policing system, which analyses data to identify areas where crime and anti-social behaviour are most likely to occur. Predictive Policing was introduced to Kent Police UK in December 2011. It is an intelligence led computer programme that uses an algorithm to pin-point officers to zones where crime is most likely to occur. Predictive policing was rolled out countywide in April 2013.
The patrol recently resulted in a suspected stolen motorcycle being recovered from the Luton area, a woman being arrested on suspicion of robbery and another suspected stolen motorcycle being found on fire, this has now been sent for forensic examination. One person was given a nuisance vehicle warning after found to be using a motorcycle in an anti-social way. If they are caught again, police will have the power to seize their vehicle.
In addition to this a Chatham UK ‘off licence’ was found to be breaching their licence conditions by selling super strength alcohol and another shop was found to be selling non-duty paid alcohol. Both shops will now have their licences reviewed.
Predictive Policing uses modern technology alongside officers on the beat, who police what they see and are able to engage with communities. The patrol was successful in doing that and was able to demonstrate to other agencies how we are making the best of every available resource to us to maximise the policing presence whilst being successful in deterring crime.
The Bellingham Police Department, near Seattle in the US, wants to adopt software to help officers predict where crimes are most likely to occur. Chief Cliff Cook says the city could use a Department of Justice grant to purchase the “predictive policing” software, which he says will allow the department to better serve the community. The department has asked residents to comment on the proposal at a City Council meeting.
The software analyzes data sets on crime types, place and time, which can help departments be more effective in deploying officers to deter crime rather than respond to it. Departments around the country use such programs.
The department said it has chosen software developed by Bair Analytics because it offers a free public access component that allows residents to receive alerts and view interactive maps of recent crimes.
Predictive policing often uses advanced analytics and includes the systematic review and analysis of data and information using automated methods. Through the use of exploratory graphics in combination with advanced statistics, machine learning tools, and artificial intelligence, critical pieces of information can be identified and extracted from large repositories of data. By probing data in this manner, it is possible to prove or disprove hypotheses while discovering new or previously unknown information.
In particular, unique or valuable relationships, trends, patterns, sequences, and affinities in the data can be identified and used proactively to categorize or anticipate additional actions or information.
Simply stated, advanced analytics includes the use and exploitation of mathematical techniques and processes that can be used to confirm things that we already know or think that we know, as well as discover new or previously unknown patterns, trends, and relationships in the data.
Kent Police: http://bit.ly/1DSoqlZ
Seattle Times: http://bit.ly/1N7cHTQ
Privacy SOS: http://bit.ly/1KllKu4
