With the objective of checking crime and making Ahmedabad a safer city, the city police are using artificial intelligence to predict crimes and the locations where the crimes would take place.
The aim is to identify crime hotspots and intensify patrolling or increase technical surveillance in those areas. ‘Predictive policing’ involves analysing data on past crimes to predict where and when future crimes may occur. The AI model being used by Ahmedabad police has collated data from control room calls received from February 2019 to February 2024.
Area-wise predictions
Predictions for April 2024 indicate that Chandkheda and Khokhra may witness two-wheeler thefts on Wednesday and Friday nights respectively. The AI model has predicted when cases of harassment of women will rise – Saturday mornings in Shaherkotda, Saturday afternoons in Kagdapith and Thursday afternoons in Naroda.
The AI model tells police teams to be alert in Rakhial on Monday nights and Maninagar on Tuesday mornings as these areas are chain-snatching hotspots.
Prohibition enforcement teams now know where to look for illicit booze business. For April, the algorithms point to Meghaninagar (on Tuesday evenings to Wednesday mornings) and Nikol (on Thursday evenings).
Places of worship vulnerable
Insights show that all these crimes are more likely to occur near places of worship as more people gather at these places. The police have been advised to increase their presence at such places and install CCTV cameras. The AI model also suggests enhancing patrolling by PCR units in these areas, particularly during events.
Deploying more personnel in a hotspot will deter potential criminals. The use of AI in policing represents a major leap forward in crime prevention strategies, say police sources.
However, there are lapses too. Recently, a motorcycle was stolen 10 metres from Khadia police station. Another incident which was not predicted was finding two drunk men less than 20 m from Karanj police station in the morning hours.
Predictive policing is being used in Delhi, which has implemented the Crime Mapping Analytics and Predictive System (CMAPS). Telangana and Jharkhand have also established predictive policing systems and Himachal Pradesh is creating a CCTV Surveillance Matrix to aid in predictive policing efforts.
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