Abstract
Research QuestionAre selective decisions to dispatch police cars for interception of vehicles identified by ‘live alerts’ from fixed cameras using an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) database associated with the highest levels of harm across all live alerts?DataThis study examined 70.3 million vehicle registration marks read by Fixed ANPR cameras in the West Midlands Police area in April 2015, from which 12,581 live alerts were generated with many repeats, for 1488 unique vehicles identified. A random sample of 210 of these unique alerts was drawn for detailed analysis.MethodsCambridge Crime Harm Index values were applied to each of the 210 cases in the sample, with mean values computed and contrasted for alerts generating dispatched responses vs. no dispatch, interceptions vs. no interceptions and consequences imposed on drivers vs. no consequences.FindingsThe mean Cambridge Crime Harm Index (CCHI) value of the alerts leading to a dispatched response was 58% lower (59 CCHI days vs. 141) than the value of alerts not leading to a dispatch. The harm level of alert dispatches leading to interception was 57% lower (67 vs. 107 CCHI days) than those not intercepted. The harm level of interceptions leading to consequences was 57% lower (46 vs. 106 CCHI days).ConclusionsWhile resource limitations may affect these outcomes, there is great potential value in creating an automated CCHI calculator to inform the professional judgment of all police professionals involved in screening and responding to live alerts from ANPR.
Highlights
This study examines the allocation of scarce police response resources to Blive time^ Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) alerts of vehicles that are sought by police in connection with an offence
ANPR technology has been in growing use since 1976 (Gaikwad and Barole 2014), yet no research published to date has tracked police discretion in immediate responses to live time alerts
This study provides what may be the first empirical evidence tracking the targeting (Sherman 2013) of live time ANPR alerts based on a crime severity measure
Summary
This study examines the allocation of scarce police response resources to Blive time^ Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) alerts of vehicles that are sought by police in connection with an offence. ANPR technology has been in growing use since 1976 (Gaikwad and Barole 2014), yet no research published to date has tracked police discretion in immediate responses to live time alerts. This study examines those responses in a large urban area with over 4000 Bhits^ generating some 50 unique vehicle alerts per day.
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