MINORITY REPORT? Police working on software that PREDICTS crime before it happens
A NEW crime prediction system is being developed by police to try to get ahead of criminals in Britain – but watchdogs insist the scheme is “a long way from Minority Report”.
By ZOIE O’BRIEN
Express.co.uk
Thu, Feb 25, 2016
HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor has revealed work has started on the project, sparking suggestions it could have echoes of the sci-fi film in which the concept of ‘predictive policing’ features.
HMIC is working with the London School of Economics to build a picture of the levels of predicted demand on policing in small areas of England and Wales, which each have an average of 125 households.
In a report, Sir Thomas wrote: “By analysing many thousands of the characteristics relating to the population in each of these areas, we are able accurately to predict how demanding these areas will be to police in the future.
“For example, we have found that 12% of predicted police-recorded incidents occur in 1% of the census areas, and 72% of predicted police-recorded incidents occur in 34% of the census output areas.”
Questioned about the proposal, Sir Thomas said it was “a very useful tool in the tool box”.
The Rest…HERE
