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