1. Figuring Police & Crime Commissioners? Professor Allan Brimicombe
- a data viewpoint -
Professor Allan Brimicombe
Centre for Geo-Information Studies
University of East London

2. Evidence-based Responsibilities of the PCC
Setting strategic objectives and community safety priorities through a police and crime plan, and holding the Force to account.
Commission services within their remit to cut crime and support victims.
Work with partners, including Health and Wellbeing Boards, to develop a joined up approach.
Evidence-based
ASB
Problem families

3. Evidence…what is known and unknown
from National Statistician’s Review of Crime Statistics: England and Wales 2011
2009/10

4. Conventional approaches…hot spots of crime
Theft of SatNavs from vehicles
Other thefts from vehicles
Brimicombe, A.J. (2012) Did GIS start a crime wave? SatNav theft and its implications for geo-information engineering. The Professional Geographer.64:

5. The problem of exactly where do crimes happen….
Standard geocoding
~50%
Enhanced geocoding
~90%
For a pan-London study see:
Brimicombe, A.J.; Brimicombe, L.; Li, Y. (2007) Improving geocoding rates in preparation for crime data analysis. International Journal of Police Science and Management 9: 80-92

6. A repeat victimisation approach….
London Borough of Newham Jan 2004 to Dec 2005
Business vs individuals

7. Where are the data on repeat victimisation?
Crime Survey of England & Wales (CSEW)
50-60% of domestic violence incidents are not reported to the police
60% Female; 40% Male
25% Females and 21% Males experience repeat incidents within a 12 month period
Police recorded crime
Domestic violence is not a statutory crime and does not appear on the Notifiable List (NOL)
It is reported as assault, wounding, arson, rape, murder, criminal damage……
Flagged in crime databases or kept in a separate database
No consistent recording of repeat victimisation
[Some crime types tend reflect police activity to detect]
[raw data from a Force in England]

8. Domestic homicide as a marker
50-60% of domestic violence incidents are not reported to the police
from
Home Office (2012) Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11: Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11

9. A little more of what more can we find out….
[raw data from a Force in England]

10. In conclusion….
The statistics a PCC will need in order to devise and monitor a plan that will have impact will not come served up on a plate.
The PCC needs an analytical capability independent of a Police Force, Health & Wellbeing Boards and service providers. Any analysis function inherited from the Police Authorities may not be adequate to the task.
Raw data will have to be requested from a number of sources, integrated and contextualised with other statistics on demographics, health, housing, benefits….
For a PCC, don’t assume these sources a) have robust data, b) can extract them consistently, c) can clean them up ready for use, d) can analyse out what you need on a regular basis.