Unlike popular TV crime shows, discovering clues for complex crimes takes a lot more time than an hour.
Human behavior has a huge scope for unpredictability but there’s a certain structure that can be investigated even in the most chaotic of scenarios. Using repetitive statistics, and data collected from hot spots of crime in multiple locations, crime can be both solved and prevented.
According to Accenture, citizens welcome the use of digital technologies that are making it possible for the police to use analytics. More than 80 percent of citizens said they thought advanced digital tools (such as mobile devices, wearables, predictive tools, CCTV and identity devices) can support police work.
NYC – Patternizr
The New York City Police Department is using a new software system called Patternizr, which helps officers search through “hundreds of thousands” of case files, according to The Washington Times.
The software was developed in-house and allows analysts to look for patterns or similar crimes. In one example, officers used the system to connect two crimes; a man who used a syringe to steal a drill in two different Home Depots in New York City.
This isn’t a Minority Report-like system that seeks to predict where crimes will occur, nor is it a system that uses AI to parse through CCTV footage. Rather, it’s a system that searches through the NYPD’s databases for patterns, allowing detectives to search from a much wider pool of data in the course of an investigation.
Data-Enriched 911 calls
More than 600,000 people call 911 every day and Carbyne, a global leader in public safety technology, has announced a partnership with RapidSOS to integrate its AI prioritization system.
RapidSOS works with public safety partners to deliver life-saving emergency data from hundreds of millions of connected devices to 911 and first responders. During an emergency, RapidSOS enables connected devices (wearables, smart home devices, smartphones, connected cars, etc.) to transmit rich data such as accurate location, medical and demographic data, car telematics data, and additional information directly into 911 systems nationwide.
The integration of Carbyne’s system will offer more intelligent analysis of RapidSOS’s data and thus provide better information directly to police officers.
LAPD – PredPol
LAPD is using a software called PredPol to predict property crimes. It looks at the types of crimes that were committed in a given area, the time, and the location, and determines whether and when another crime is likely to occur. PredPol then produces maps, which are updated daily, marked with 500-by-500 ft hotspots that officers are strongly encouraged to patrol.
The use of statistical models can be of immense value for law enforcement. Armed with new data-driven insights, police investment in the latest technology can deliver the right information, at the right time, to keep communities secure and reduce crime.