Implementing and Integrating Crime Mapping Into a Police Intelligence Environment

• NCJ Number: 182302
• Journal: International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 313-323
• Author(s): Jerry Ratcliffe
• Date Published: March 2000
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This paper examines the technical issues in the transference of information on crime locations to a mappable format and then analyzes an input/output model for two applications of crime mapping within the British police service.

Abstract

Recent publications have highlighted the benefits to policing of an integrated intelligence environment, and the current trend in both British policing and beyond is toward a level of information gathering and analysis that focuses on the local area command level. Local intelligence gathering is both effective and economical, although much of the literature concerning the integration of local intelligence concentrates on the use of surveillance, informant handling, and the development of intelligence databases. These documents address the obtaining of information on criminal activity that is not known to the police, and little is said about maximizing the analysis of information already in the possession of the police. Digitalization of both recorded crime records and calls for service provides a wealth of information about local crime activity that is readily retrievable from modern computer systems. The possibilities and potential benefits of mapping and analyzing these types of data have been known for some time, although technical and other difficulties have often hindered the implementation of crime mapping systems. The result of a survey of every police force in the United Kingdom indicates that although some successes exist, many forces still have technical and human implementation hurdles to overcome. The most successful schemes are user-driven, controlled by the departments that house the analysts who benefit from the system, with technical support. Apparently a more successful implementation of crime mapping can be achieved if the users are closely involved in the development process. 1 figure and 35 references