It Police

The five elements of predictive policing concentrates on integrated information and operations, seeing the big picture, cutting-edge analysis and technology, linkage to performance, adaptability to changing conditions. There are a very large number of ways technology used to implement these five elements: patrol staffing and resource allocation, time and location of future incidence in a crime pattern, identify individuals who are likely to reoffend/early detection of career criminals, analysis of predatory patterns, threat and vulnerability assessment, city/neighborhood planning, traffic management, crowd control …and the list goes on.

In a world where technology is developing and evolving faster than it can be implemented, it is realistic to assume that the police force would adapt and use that technology to place them in a good position to be able to adequately and effectively do its job. The first element, integrated information and operation, removes silos allowing for simpler and timelier access to information. It centers on developing, managing, and operating and integrated information infrastructure. One of the largest IT pitfalls of many businesses is having information isolated with departments. The police are no different, they maintain many multiple databases. Rarely, in the past, were any of those systems connected. This was a huge breakdown in communication. Information needs to be cross functional. Information sources needs to be linked to police analytical systems. Poor information sharing can hinder and prevent effective analysis and investigation. In order to effectively predict the future and take necessary action is to have a complete picture of the current situation. It is a must for police to integrate their information systems to enable situational awareness.

The second element, seeing the big picture, can be interpreted several ways correctly. But as a whole, it is interpreted in this situation as being able to get a...