Predictive Policing: Proceed, but with Care

Author(s): Matthias Leese
Editor(s): Annabelle Vuille, Brian Carlson, Oliver Thränert
Series: CSS Policy Perspectives
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich
Publication Year: 2020

Data-driven analytics can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of police work and crime prevention. Police departments should however proceed with care, as tools such as predictive policing raise a number of concerns regarding human rights and civil liberties, argues Matthias Leese in this CSS Policy Perspective. More specifically, tools such as predictive policing can potentially undermine civil liberties and impair the relationship between the police and the population. In order to ensure responsible use, policy-makers and police chiefs should critically reflect questions of data, automation, decision-making, communication, and operative measures in algorithmically supported police work.

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