Crime Prevention

ICT in today’s society has affected the law enforcement agencies in a verity of manners. The introduction of ICT into crime prevention has revolutionised the way in which the police and other services operate, it has allowed for a more analytical approach to crime ensuring the offenders see justice and are commitment for their felony.

Analytical and recognition introduction are the main benefits that have arisen from the computerisation of law agencies. The benefits are today seen in all walks of life and in one way or another massively influence the way in which Police officers function. Today Communications, Recognition and Analytical areas have been incorporated due to computerisation and this can be seen in the following sub categories;

· CCTV

· Criminal Database

· TV License Database

· Finger Print Scanner

· Voice Recognition

· Tags

· Digital Speed Cameras

· Alarms

· DNA and Forensics

· Tracking

· Breathalyser

· Communication

I intend to analyse these sections to reveal their importance within the law enforcement as a whole, and how influential they have been since their introduction as crime reduction equipment.

CCTV, Close Circuit Television has massively aided in reduction of crime within the United Kingdom. Its uses allow for an operator to view an array of cameras within a location and sight possible threats within them. Close Circuit Television is linked to a digital recorder enabling the viewing of all recordings to be saved upon a disk for further analysis, if a crime has been committed.

CCTV fits into the category of Recognition and therefore as technology has advanced as a whole so has the uses of this recording equipment. Today it can be combined as facial recognition software; using information provided from the criminal database, CCTV has advanced so that today, individuals can be identified automatically, detecting a threat potentially missed by operator of the equipment. This facial recognition can be seen in use today within Airports and alerts the authorities to potential threats, that before may have gone unseen.

The criminal database itself has today been revolutionised due to computerisation through ICT. Today information and profiling of all criminals and crimes has to be entered onto the database. The movement from a paper system to a digital one, enables crimes to be viewed from any computer linked to the criminal database, due to this policing is much more efficient in information can always be accessed on suspects. With the database information entered, crimes can be viewed form officers on the force, with not only basic text, but pictures and videos uploaded as well. This aids in the CCTV approach to facial recognition as suspects can be accessed and updated automatically so they are updated within CCTV cameras networked to the database.

TV License database, again this is a database that has migrated from a paper based scheme into the digital era, the loading of information onto the database for view at any time, allows for government officials to quickly view those missing payments and deal with them subsequently. However it is not solely the TV Licensing database that has been revolutionised due to computerisation, many other databases have migrated onto the digital scheme to allow for culprits to be found and punished faster in all areas of tax, such as; car tax (road tax), income tax, and many other alike.

Finger print scanners; Security overall as a general topic is one area that has been massively improved due to computerisation, we can see this alone with the introduction of CCTV, however Finger print scanners today are used for an extra layer of protection for users who need an additional layer of protection over their documents and other files alike. Finger print scanners, work in reading the unique arrangement of the finger prints of the individual, memorizing them and from this point onwards only grant that character access to certain files and documents. This system has been incorporated onto date pens and laptops alike, therefore meaning; even if the device is stolen an external user may not access the files within. Due to this security has been bolstered upon these devices, and it is surely a feature of protection that we can see added to many new digital devices in the future.

Voice Recognition software is yet another area that has been developed and implemented into devices today. The software adds an increased layer of security and can be seen in use generally with that of the finger print scanner. The voice recognition software allows for a user to be identified due to their voice, this may not seem as complex as the finger print scanner itself, but it no doubts works as an additional security measure. The voice recognition software therefore has the same uses as the finger print scanner, in that it grants access to the specific user to files within the device and allows them to view and manipulate them after passing the test. The software can be seen in a very primitive form within that of mobile phones today in that a user merely says the name of their contact once a button has been held down and the phone dials that relating number. Both the voice recognition software and the finer print scanner aid in crime prevention as if a device is stolen it is essentially useless to the culprit as they cannot make use of it nor access its files.

Tags’, tagging today is used by the police to enforce ASBO’s. The Anti Social Behaviour Orders are enforced by that of a tag bound to the offender’s angle. The tag is monitored by a geostationary orbiting satellite monitoring their movement. The tag confines the culprit within the residence between certain hours, due to this if the curfew is broken, police units are dispatched to apprehend the individual and return them home. Tagging has reduced public spending within prison as it confines a person to house arrest, ensuring they stay within their housing. This aids in crime prevention as it allows for police to be despatched to more pressing issues rather than that of monitoring previously convicted suspects.

Digital Speed Camera’s, today speed regulation are enforced by digital speed cameras monitoring stretches of road 24/7.The cameras are used in order to enforce the speed limit and act as a deterrent to drives, forcing them to slow down , or receive fines and points on their license, which may ultimately result in it being removed. The digital speed cameras take an array of pictures of both the driver and vehicle enabling the correct driver to be convicted of the offense. Using digital speed cameras today has made road increasingly safer and has reduced the chance of drivers speeding on particular roads.

Alarms, another advancement in security and crime protection are that of alarms. Today there are arrays of new digital alarms that help to detect and alert intruders to a specific individual or the police general. Today fire alarms are linked directly to the emergency services, however alarms intended to detect and protect property or items work on the same base, however are more advanced. Alarms today sense movement and alert an individual to their presence be it by a sensor, producing light and an alarm or a more discrete silent alarm used for capturing criminals in the act. Sensors are the main development which allow for intruders to be detected due to their motion, these alarms are the most efficient in preventing crime, and can be seen on houses today in order to prevent burglars.

DNA and Forensics, within crimes themselves DNA can prove the most important asset to a case in convicting a criminal and bringing them to justice, just a small fragment of tissue is required but it is enough to tie an offender to the act and bring them to justice. DNA testing and validation can be use in order to identify suspects within a specific case if they are tied to the criminal database, or similarly its cross reference with suspects is all that is needed to identify the culprit. Overall the advance in DNA testing and validation within the law enforcement agencies allow for criminals to see justice and for the offenders to face up to their crime committed. Forensics themselves is the process in analysing the DNA, the technology itself is used by those who are directly connected to this sector, all they require is a tissue fragment possessing some DNA material and a crime can be pieced together and protect those who innocent, whilst convicting those guilty.

Tracking, this revolves around the essentials of the Tagging process, a geostationary satellite can be used to survey criminals and suspects, and however this process is with them being unaware. Satellite tracking allows for targets to be tracked by a satellite for surveillance purposes without a suspect being aware. It is important and is used mainly in high profile cases in recording the movements of criminals without their knowledge. Therefore it aids in the apprehension and conviction of culprits, in stringing together information and bring them to justice.

Breathalyzer are used today by police across the country in convicting drivers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. They are used by police who are intended to enforce road safety, the device itself requires the culprit to breath into it, and it delivers a digital reading analysing their breath of the alcohol within their blood. This device has enabled police to combat dangerous drivers enforcing the law and therefore making the roads safer. Computerisation due to this device is an important factor and without alcohol on the roads would be a wider problem today.

Communication in general is the final factor that has had an influential effect on reducing crime. The use of it affects many areas and is not used directly within the police forces. The use of mobile phones, mobile radio handsets and ear pieces all have aided in the communication of forces and reduction of crime. Computerisation allows for more efficient discrete devices to be used, in order to not alert a culprit of the police’s presence. Communications within the force itself allow for crimes to be alerted quicker, and units dispatched to the scene and a faster rate. Due to this it is the most important development in computerisation and crime prevention and aids in general civilian protection, due to threats and crimes being alerted at a faster rate from any location.

In conclusion the introduction of computerisation into Crime Prevention has enabled for increased levels of security and reductions in offenses. Without the developments we have today crime prevention forces would not be able to operate as efficiently as they do, and many crimes would go undetected and alerted.