Predictive Policing
Keywords
Predictive, Policing, Programmes, Inputting, Data, Production, Outputs, Predict, Identifying, Individuals, Commit, Victims, Artificial, Intelligence, Algorithms, Evaluate, Decisions, Mapping, Trialling, Trials, Trialled, Policies, Privacy, Impact, Assessment, Equality, Conducted, Testing, Research, Bias, Pre-crime, Data, Computer, Companies, Cost, Retrospectively, Risk, Model, Fearless, Futures, Vulnerable, Partners, Rehabilitation.
Publication Number
PUB 1390
FOI Reference Number
16495
Request Title
Predictive Policing
Date Range
N/A
Information Requested
We write to you again under FOIA to request information on Essex Police’s current use of predictive policing programmes.
By predictive policing programmes, we mean any police programme that involves the inputting of data and production of outputs that are used to predict where and when crime will happen, usually either by identifying areas of ‘high crime’ or individuals who are likely to commit or be victims of crime. Usually but not always predictive policing programmes use algorithms or artificial intelligence to evaluate police data and make predictive decisions. In addition to ‘predictive policing programmes’, you may refer to these programmes as ‘algorithmic decision-making’, ‘predictive mapping programmes’, ‘individual risk assessment programmes’, etc..
Please answer the following questions.
1. Is Essex Police currently trialling/using, or does it have plans to trial/use, any predictive policing programme?
If the answer to question 1 is yes, please answer questions 2 to 7 in respect of each programme trialled/used or for which there are plans to trial/use.
2. What is the name given to this programme?
3. When was the programme first used/trialled?
4. How does this programme work? Specifically:
a. Please explain the purpose of the programme.
b. Please provide any documents that outline the scope and operation of the programme.
5. Please provide any guidance/policies governing Essex Police’s use of this programme.
6. Please provide any Privacy Impact Assessment, Data Protection Impact Assessment and/or Equality Impact Assessment conducted in relation to this programme. Please provide the dates when these assessments were conducted. If no such assessments were conducted, please state as such.
7. What testing and/or research has been conducted in order to investigate the potential for bias within the programme, in order to comply with Essex Police’s Public Sector Equality Duty under s149 Equality Act 2010?
Disclosure with Exemptions
No Information Held
Information Correct as at
N/A
Date of Disclosure
24 February 2022
Related Documents/Links
N/A
FOI 16495 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does not hold information relating to your request.
To provide some explanation and to meet our duty to assist under Section 16 of the FOIA, Essex Police can advise:
Essex Police do not use any technology that incorporates prediction as described in this request.
We do look at high crime areas, however, that is done using data retrospectively, we have no programmes that attempt to predict if individuals are likely to commit crime. We do run a risk model (Fearless Futures), which uses an algorithmic approach to determine risk, however, this is not predictive and is focused on assisting vulnerable individuals, with partners taking the lead on rehabilitation. The Essex Police website has a public notice covering Fearless Futures – please see below link:
Knife crime and violence model fearless futures
FOI Reference Number
16224
Request Title
Predictive Policing Software or Algorithm
Date Range
N/A
Information Requested
Do Essex Constabulary use any type of predictive policing software or algorithms? These can also be known as "pre-crime" Are there any data-driven techniques that are used?
What is the name of any computer algorithms that are used? Which companies have developed them?
How much did it cost, on average, for each year that it is used?
Disclosure with Exemptions
No Information Held
Information Correct as at
N/A
Date of Disclosure
24 February 2022
Related Documents/Links
N/A
FOI 16224 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does not hold information relating to your request.
To provide some explanation and to meet our duty to assist under Section 16 of the FOIA, Essex Police can advise:
Essex Police do not use any technology that incorporates prediction as described in this request.
We do look at high crime areas, however, that is done using data retrospectively, we have no programmes that attempt to predict if individuals are likely to commit crime. We do run a risk model (Fearless Futures), which uses an algorithmic approach to determine risk, however, this is not predictive and is focused on assisting vulnerable individuals, with partners taking the lead on rehabilitation. The Essex Police website has a public notice covering Fearless Futures – please see below link: