Using police statistics and crime maps in social science teaching and research - Fiona O’Hara and...

Using Police Statistics and

Crime Maps in Social Science

Teaching and Research

Karen McComb, Higher Police Analyst, PSNI

Fiona O’Hara, Higher Police Analyst, PSNI

Aims

To provide an overview of:

• The use of maps by Analysts within the PSNI

• The techniques utilised in GIS to meet specific operational needs

• The types of data available for analysis

• The current and future use of maps by Analysts

Data – Serious Crime

• Collation

• Types

- Common

- Uncommon / Unusual

• Origin of data

• Caveats

• Dates

Evolution of Serious Crime Mapping

• ARCMAP

• How our maps are used

• Inferences based on data

• Product dependant upon data / incident / investigation

• Extracts from Serious Crime Analytical Products

• Sanitised

Example (1) – Limited Data

Statement of Alison BROWN S1

“I was walking along A road in the

direction of the playground when I

saw a man standing next to the first

shop in the row. He was wearing a

hat, glasses and a long dark coat….”

Statement of Constable Colin BLACK S2

“I was in uniform and on patrol with

Constables BLUE and GREEN when I

witnessed a blue car carry out a u-turn on

the A road between the playground and the

Primary School. The car then sped off in a

country wards direction….”

• Colour to indicate routes

• Location of incident

• Significant locations

• Limited witnesses

• Limited CCTV

• No telecoms data

• Discrepancies

Example (2) - Sequencer

• Sightings

• Telecoms data

• Financial Transactions

• Plot movements

Example (3) – Bearing Distance to Line

• Azimuths

• Cell coverage

• Investigative Opportunities

Example (4) – Locate

• Visibility and Safety

• Resourcing

• Aftermath of attacks

Crime Maps

• Available on PSNI website, www.psni.police.uk

• Drop down lists

• Crime types

• Reported dates

• Within a 1 mile radius

• Draw your own area

• Download crime data as a .csv file

• Download provides Lat / Long and Crime Type

Evolution of Volume Crime Data & Mapping

• Crime data – PSNI Crime Recording

– Home Office Counting Rules

– Statistics Branch Verification

– Crime, ASB, Motivations, Offenders…

• Analysis of volume crime to identify patterns, trends, crime series, and emerging risks.

• Drives key decision making – resourcing, patrol planning, enforcement strategies, crime prevention, investigative strategies, etc.

• Problem Solving: What works?! Interpretation: Why?!

• Continuously evolving criminal environment influenced by many factors – need for constant development and innovation of data collection and analysis techniques.

Hotspots

Emerging Risks

How to be one step ahead of crime:

Predictive Policing Masterclass Monday 5th November 2012 10am to 3.30pm

NPIA Ryton

How to be one step ahead of crime:

Predictive Policing Masterclass Monday 5th November 2012 10am to 3.30pm

NPIA Ryton

Evidence Based Policing

Evidence Based Policing

Other Datasets - NISRA

• Crime & Justice

• Education & Skills

• Economy

• Health & Social Care

• Labour Market, Migration

• Ethnicity, Language, Religion

• Population & Households

• Travel & Transport

• Deprivation

• Neighbourhood Renewal

• Recorded Crime

• ASB Incidents

• Domestic Abuse

• Hate Crime

• Confidence in Police

• Confidence in Justice System

• Fear of Crime

• Police Ombudsman Allegations

Demographics – 2011 Census

• Big Data

• Social Media

• Risk

• Prediction

Future

• PSNI Homepage http://www.psni.police.uk

• NI Statistics & Research Agency http://www.nisra.gov.uk/

• NI Neighbourhood Information Service http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/

• Crime Maps http://www.nicrimemaps.org/

• UCL Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science http://www.ucl.ac.uk/jdi/

• Centre for Problem-Orientated Policing http://www.popcenter.org/

• Society of Evidence Based Policing http://www.sebp.police.uk/

• Westminster Briefing http://www.westminster-briefing.com/features/

Open Source Data & Useful Links