Manchester Metropolitan University has signed a new partnership project with Greater Manchester Police (GMP). They plan to use big data to help support police forces.
Led by Manchester Metropolitan’s Crime and Wellbeing Big Data Centre (BDC), the ‘Operational Analytics’ project will combine criminology with the analysis of big data to help GMP use resources more effectively.
The £1m BDC is a secure data facility that researches the relationships between crime and wellbeing. This multi-disciplinary project will see researchers at the BDC work with GMP officers and staff.
The partnership will establish research led by Professor Jon Bannister, Director of the Crime and Wellbeing BDC.
Prof Bannister said: “Our BDC leads the way in data science, statistical analysis and technological innovation. With these practices, we can help guide GMP towards planning service delivery – for example, through predicting future demand. We believe that this project will offer a unique opportunity to help GMP deliver social impact across the region. An important aspect of this project is the impact it will have on society within Greater Manchester. The project will build on existing projects such as our partnership with Moss Side Probation Service, our community-led education projects and our training courses, to make a wide range of positive contributions to the wellbeing of the people of Greater Manchester.”
Ian Pilling, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: “GMP welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with a local academic partner of the calibre of Manchester Metropolitan University, in what is an exciting and innovative development. As a service we are seeking to embrace this scientific field, supported by advances in our own technology, to improve how we deliver policing in communities as part of a wider transformation of 21st century public service in Greater Manchester.”
And Prof Jean-Noel Ezingeard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan, said: “Operational analytics is the latest step in our continuing work to help police and society tackle complex crime and disorder problems. The project is truly collaborative, blending professional and scientific knowledge at every stage in the research process from design to outcomes.”
Background
By analysing large sets of anonymised data, the project will help police determine and predict areas that require demand. This in turn will allow police to use their forces more effectively; such as by making evidence-based decisions on deployment.
Pictured by Mark Rowe; Manchester Met.
