GMAC mapping uses multi-agency information

Information from a range of agencies and public service organisations in Manchester is to be collated and stored electronically, and used to map crime hotspots across the region under a £2m project launched this month.

Greater Manchester Against Crime (GMAC) will utilise data from the health service, ambulance, fire and transport through to probation, community safety and drug action teams, youth offending teams and local authorities.

The information will be stored on one central database and tagged with its source; computer software then allows the user to select which items are to be mapped.

Using mapping software the incidents can be built up into layers of activity and displayed on a map density grid for geographical locations, with high densities of activity displayed as ‘hotspots’; areas with high crime rates can then be analysed by postcode, ward or by police division or beat, to determine how to target resources.

Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable, Ian Seabridge said: “Sharing information and intelligence between all of us who are committed to the fight against crime will mean better decisions are made to prevent, disrupt and detect crime.

“GMAC will tell us where best to direct resources by identifying hot spot areas and enable us all to focus our resources together in the same place, at the same time and to best effect, which will mean safer communities for all.”

The scheme has received funding from the Home Office, Government North West and all ten Greater Manchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, which have spent the last two years developing the project.