Police Scotland exploring AI to predict where crimes are likely to occur

Police Scotland is entering a new era of intelligence-led policing, intending to make greater use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies to anticipate where crimes are likely to occur and better inform officer deployment. Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith outlined the force's plan to develop data science and AI capabilities to equip the workforce to identify crime patterns, enabling targeted patrols and interventions. The force is also using technology to drive internal efficiencies by automating data entry and eliminating the need for re-keying.

Smith also provided an update on the rollout of body-worn video cameras, which has reached its halfway point, with over 10,500 officers now equipped. While the force does not currently use live facial recognition (LFR), it has seen significant benefits from facial matching software in investigating child sexual abuse material. Smith noted that facial matching allows the review of 10,000 images in one hour, a process that previously took three days. Although the long-term intention is to introduce LFR, its use remains hotly debated, with a recent SNP motion calling for primary legislation similar to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) to govern its deployment. 

Meanwhile, AI Scotland's justice system is exploring how it can use AI to tackle growing backlogs and increased administrative workloads. AI is no longer being seen as whether it can provide a benefit, but how it can be deployed to improve efficiency. 

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