Smart Policing: The Role of AI and Data in Crime Prevention

At a time where every sector is using data and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve decision-making, police forces cannot afford to fall behind. In fact, with increased demand for transparency and accountability, they must lean on advanced technologies to drive efficiency and improve operations.

The traditional model of reacting to a crime after it occurs is no longer fit for purpose. Each emergency call-out or blue-light response often indicates an opportunity missed: a moment where earlier intervention could have prevented harm. And what if data could help change that?

It was recently reported that 58% of organisations that use data to guide decisions outperform those that don’t. Today, the question for police forces shouldn’t be whether to use data or not – but how to use it to their advantage. It’s crucial to remember, relying on data doesn’t mean replacing boots on the ground, but instead giving them an opportunity to act earlier, fairer, and with more purpose.

Understanding the real value of data

When we talk about data analytics in policing, it’s easy to get caught up in the technical jargon, such as algorithms, heat maps, or predictive models. But at the heart of it, this is about something much more human. It’s about making sure a mum feels safe walking her children to school; a local shop owner has peace of mind when locking up for the night and a young person on the edge of trouble gets the right support before it’s too late.

Data only becomes powerful when it makes a difference to real lives. That’s the principle behind the Policing Vision 2030 – to create the most trusted and engaged policing service, working together to make communities safer and stronger.

However, to get there, forces need more than just data. They need the ability to decode and generate actionable insights. That’s where Cybit’s Data & AI platform comes into play – enabling police forces to turn information into actionable intelligence to drive smarter decisions. Using our Data & AI platform, police forces can identify crime patterns, forecast risks, and allocate resources more effectively.

One police force that did this was Lincolnshire Police who moved beyond static reports and manual workflows to real-time, mobile-first intelligence – improving victim updates by 60% in line with the Victim Code of Practice.

The need for a proactive approach

One of the biggest challenges for any force isn’t the lack of data – it’s knowing what to do with it. This is where the role of advanced data analytics solutions becomes more important. Advanced solutions enable forces to use raw data to gain insights such as specific crime patterns, locations of crime, key causes and more.

Research shows that crime tends to cluster in specific hotspots, with an analysis of data in England and Wales reporting that 50% of violent crime happens in just 2% of street segments. In London, nearly 70% of knife-related crimes happen within just 1% of small geographic areas.

By identifying these high-risk zones early, police forces can take action before problems escalate. With intuitive dashboards and AI-driven recommendations, our Data & AI platform enables decision-makers to see where threats are emerging and where officer presence could have the biggest impact. By leaning on our advanced data analytics solution, police forces can begin to shift from reactive policing to a more strategic and proactive approach.

Decoding human-centred intelligence

At its best, data is about understanding people. When using Cybit’s platform, police forces can go beyond basic dashboards and start uncovering deeper insights. This may include spotting a surge in antisocial behaviour near schools or tracking a rise in domestic incidents during certain times of year, police forces can use our platform to connect the dots across agencies and address not just symptoms of crime, but root causes too.

A great example of this is if an area sees a rise in youth-related disturbances, integrated data can reveal whether it’s linked to gaps in support services, school absenteeism, or housing issues. This kind of insight leads to smarter, more sustainable interventions – not just more arrests.

Bringing together historical data and real-time analytics means that police forces can identify and address issues before they escalate – ultimately improving public confidence.

The takeaway

It’s crucial to understand that the goal isn’t only to reduce crime, but also to build communities that feel safe, supported, and more connected to those who serve and protect them.

Cybit’s Data & AI platform equips police forces with the tools to do just that: anticipate problems, optimise resources, and deliver more informed, human-centred policing.

Smart policing isn’t just defined by the systems behind the scenes, but it’s also measured by the impact on the ground. Safer streets. More trust. Stronger communities.

About Rob Hankin

Rob Hankin (CTO) has 25 years of IT leadership, including a decade in a multi-national manufacturing environment. Over the past 15 years, Rob has worked with leading technologies, vendors, and distributors including Microsoft and AWS. He leads Cybit’s technology partnerships, supporting private and public sector customers across the globe. Rob’s expertise is highly valued by key industry players, where he has served on Partner Advisory Councils and Product Advisory teams. As a trusted advisor, he helps organisations from small enterprises to global industry leaders unlock opportunities through technology.