ESRC Predictive Crime project

Tackling urban crime through innovative research and analysis

Predicting street crime and optimising crime reduction measures are at the heart of research being conducted by the Institute for Future Cities.

Street crime and fear of street crime can have significant impacts on:

• individual lives
• the use and regeneration of urban areas
• the ability to attract businesses and investment
• the price of property
• the ability of citizens to live full and creative lives

Our predictive crime project aims to achieve new insights into the pattern of crime in cities using big data analytics to analyse the relationships between multiple datasets and levels of crime, and use genetic algorithms to derive innovative strategies that result in lower levels of street crime.

Previous studies have examined the relationships between social, economic and situational factors and levels and predictability of crime. However the impact of changing these factors, and how changes can be combined with other potential crime reduction measures, are not fully understood.

The research strategies emerging from this project will be tested through using the city as a ‘living lab’, working with Glasgow City Council and the Future City Demonstrator team.

For more information contact the Institute’s Assistant Director Dr Robert Rogerson: .