New AI-backed crime map initiative aims to unify fragmented policing data

It will be rooted in advanced artificial intelligence (AI) that will examine how to bring together data shared between police, councils and social services, including criminal records, previous incident locations and behavioural patterns of known offenders.

The map will identify where crime is concentrating so law enforcement and partners can direct their resources as needed and help prevent further victims.

The new AI-backed initiative aims to unify fragmented policing data. It follows Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s recent remarks that the UK’s 43-force structure “has not been fit for purpose” for more than 20 years, with scattered systems hindering crime prevention and tracking.

The Concentrations of Crime Data Challenge – delivered by UKRI – sets teams from business, universities and beyond a target of coming together to develop the solution to be operational across England and Wales by 2030 and is part of the Government’s £500 million R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.

As part of an initial £4 million government investment, teams will deliver initial prototypes to enhance the mapping system by April 2026.

The technology will focus on the crimes that make people feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods, such as theft, anti-social behaviour, knife crime and violent crime.

During a recent visit to the MPS, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Cutting-edge technology like AI can improve our lives in so many ways, including in keeping us safe, which is why we’re putting it to work for victims over vandals, the law-abiding majority over the lawbreakers.

“Our police officers are at their best when they join up to prevent crime rather than react to it, and R&D can deliver crucial tools for them to stay one step ahead of potential dangers to the public and property – keeping our streets safe.

Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, added: “As criminal networks keep evolving with technology, so too must our response.

“We are giving police the tools they need to make our streets safer, and this crime map will be a powerful tool, building on the expanded rollout of live facial recognition vans we unveiled last week.”

The challenge builds on existing Home Office work, including sophisticated mapping technologies targeting knife crime hotspots and the summer-long Safer Streets Initiative tackling town centre crime, taking this foundation further through enhanced research, expanded data sources and deeper analysis to better understand crime patterns and measure the impact of interventions.

James Nahon, head of Consulting for Public Safety and Defence at NTT DATA, said: “We’ve been talking about the need to join the dots in policing for decades. This challenge is about finally putting the technology in place to do it.

“What’s encouraging is that it’s tackling both the volume of crimes that chip away at public confidence, like anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, and the serious violence that devastates communities, such as knife crime.

“The idea of sharing intelligence across force boundaries isn’t new, but as Met chief Sir Mark Rowley recently pointed out, our 43-force structure hasn’t been fit for purpose for at least 20 years. We’ve had ROCUs and the National Crime Agency to help bridge the gaps, but persistent technical and data-sharing barriers have continually undermined our ability to prevent crime.”

He added: “One of the biggest challenges we’ve seen time and again is incompatible data. Something as small as one force labelling a field ‘last name’ and another using ‘surname’ might seem insignificant, but when that inconsistency is repeated across thousands of records and dozens of systems, it becomes a serious barrier to linking cases and tracking offenders across borders.

“This initiative could finally change that by using AI not just to spot crime patterns, but to bring together and make sense of information from multiple systems. If we get the data standards right and foster genuine collaboration, officers will have the clarity they need to intervene before crime escalates.”

John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive officer of Neighbourhood Watch, welcomed the creation an operational mapping system, which he hopes “will enable people to feel safer and more secure in their homes and local neighbourhoods”.

“The map will pool a wealth of valuable crime data and enable law enforcement to target their resources more effectively at a local level and help prevent further victims of crime,” he said. “As an organisation that strives to build a society where neighbours are more connected, safer, and active in their communities, we welcome this laser focus on harnessing data and tech to prevent crime at the local level.”

Patrick Green, chief executive officer of The Ben Kinsella Trust, said: “This forward-thinking approach, which focuses on providing police with preventative tools to proactively intervene, aligns perfectly with the core mission of the Ben Kinsella Trust.

“For 17 years, our work has been driven by the belief that prevention is the most powerful tool against crime, especially knife crime. By reaching young people early and educating them on the dangers and consequences of knife crime, we empower them to make safer choices.

“This new initiative provides a powerful technological extension of that ethos, it demonstrates that the Government recognises the immense value of prevention and is investing in innovative solutions to support our police officers in their vital work of keeping the public safe.

Rebecca Bryant, chief executive officer of Resolve, said it was “a landmark moment for innovation in community safety”, adding: “The Safer Streets mission and the Concentrations of Crime Data Challenge show a real commitment to harnessing technology for public good.

“At Resolve, we know that data alone isn’t enough as how we apply it really matters with a clear focus on an ethical and collaborative approach, all of which can make such a difference for communities. We’re proud to support this initiative and will continue championing the voices of practitioners who turn insight into impact every day.”

Matthew Evans, director of markets and chief operating officer at techUK, described it as “a forward thinking step toward building safer, stronger communities”.

“By harnessing cutting-edge AI alongside robust data sharing between police, councils, and social services, this initiative showcases the true potential of interoperability,” he said. “Seamless collaboration across agencies will enable earlier detection of patterns, smarter allocation of resources, and more targeted interventions, helping to prevent harm before it occurs and better protect the public.”

Tracey Burley, chief executive of St Giles, said: “Technology can play a role in tackling complex issues like knife crime – but only if used with care, recognising that individuals can be both victims and perpetrators, and that certain communities risk being unfairly profiled.

“Any technological solution must go hand in hand with proven measures such as early intervention for those at risk, and tackling the root causes – poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity.”