Police chiefs promote responsible approach to AI with new machine learning guide

A new resource is now available for police forces looking to use artificial intelligence approaches in their work. This is supported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council with the publication of the Machine Learning Guide for Policing.

The guide stems from Police Science and Technology Analysis and Research (STAR) funded work by West Midlands Police. The force teamed up with academics to develop a framework to help policing implement a form of AI called machine learning.

Machine learning can analyse and identify patterns in large amounts of data. Many of these patterns might take too long to identify and are often impossible for humans to identify at all. It has the potential to free up resource used for pattern-identification, making for more efficient use of staff and officer time.

This new guide attempts to bridge the gap between the academic world and everyday policing, offering practical guidance to support forces considering the use of complex machine learning algorithms, where the outcomes have potential consequences for members of the public.

One area of policing where this has been trialled already is in inspection. HMICFRS shared in an interview last year how it had used machine learning to help it identify early indicators of when a force might be heading into special measures.

In another example, West Midlands Police is developing a tool to predict which stalking and harassment offenders are more likely to go on to commit high harm offences, in order to assist officers to prioritise their investigative workload. 

This guide is part of wider work on AI in policing which includes the publication of the Covenant for Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Policing, a set of principles which all forces have agreed will define how AI is used in its business.

For more information, visit: The Machine Learning Guide for Policing.

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