In January 2018, Lancashire police started to implement Amazon Alexa as a tool to help with crime prevention and detection. The technology also improved police efficiency and speed. The application allows any user to verbally report crimes though Alexa. Users may also receive warnings about local crimes and suspected criminals spoken to them. Developing situations could alert local homes of nearby crimes so Alexa users can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
Now, UK police are considering AI to help with crime prevention and detection! The AI will flag individuals and give choices to avert potential criminal behavior. This system, the National Data Analytics Solution, uses AI and statistics to asses the risk of someone committing or becoming a victim of violent crime. High-risk individuals that the AI flags will receive preemptive counselling, not an arrest. The help and support of counselors can hopefully prevent people from committing crimes before they happen.
Technology like this brings up obvious concerns involving privacy, inaccurate predictions, and potential Human Rights violations. We will just have to wait and see how the system works. A prototype is due by the end of March 2019 and every police force will use it in the UK.