The consequences of big data policing and how big data impact law enforcement agencies.

In recent years, big data technology has revolutionized many domains. Big Data is a collection of data that is huge in volume, yet growing exponentially with time. The use of big data has so far been limited. Particularly the UK polices are collecting vast amounts of digital data daily. Law enforcement agencies are looking forward to employing big data tools to help them with their job. So big data policing has come into the picture to help law enforcers.

Police departments have begun consulting software companies for big data solutions to fight crime. Surveillance cameras monitor the streets. Law enforcement agencies have always aimed to stay one step ahead of the criminals to maintain an engaging social atmosphere in their jurisdictions. In a high-tech command center in downtown Los Angeles, a digital map lights up with 911 calls. Real-time crime data comes in. This technology will find suspicious activity from billions of otherwise-anonymous consumer transactions and personal communications.

The rise of big data policing:

The rise of big data policing introduces the cutting-edge technology that is changing how the police do their jobs and shows why it is more important than ever that citizens understand the far-reaching consequences of big data surveillance as a law enforcement tool.

Some agencies have already put in a lot of effort to integrate big data into their ecosystem. While some police departments have used technology to identify officers likely to engage in the use of excessive force and other behaviours that could result in legal and financial repercussions for their departments.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has set up a Real-Time Analysis Critical Response (RACR) System in collaboration with an IT firm, a private technology company that began developing social network software to track terrorists and has now entered big data policing.

Using big data, LAPD generates crime heat maps daily by utilizing the tons of historical data and real-time indicators that the LAPD stores, make predictions of possible crimes. This big data arises from the expanded ability to collect, store, sort, and analyze digital clues about the crime. It is an aggressive police presence, surveillance, and perceived harassment in those communities.

Real-time facial-recognition software will link existing video surveillance cameras and massive biometric databases to automatically identify people with open warrants. The attribute of predicting crime makes big data an invaluable resource in tackling anti-social elements and maintaining law and order in huge cities.

Does big data policing work?

In some cities, crime rates have trended down with the introduction of big data policing. Despite all of the rhetoric around data-driven policing, when a police department decides to adopt a new tool or platform, there is usually zero evidence of its efficacy. But really, the benefit of big-data policing for police departments is political.

The use of big data in law enforcement, as well as other parts of the criminal justice system, has the potential to reduce bias and make these systems more equitable. Big data policing will revolutionize law enforcement and its potential threat to the security, privacy, and constitutional rights of citizens.