Today, we’re living in a world of borders and boundaries, where privacy and national security levels are high – and criminals are taking advantage. Consumers are using technology and cyberspace to make their lives easier, from contactless payments to shopping online. But, this can leave them exposed to cyber-attacks. Cybercrime can relate to theft, hacking, or denial of service to vital systems – and unfortunately, it has become a part of life. But what are governments doing to protect their citizens?
Challenges for Police
According to the UK’s Strategic Policing Requirement report, only three of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have the skills and strategies to combat cybercrime. Even with development strategies set by the government, cyber-attacks still pose a problem for police. This is due to a cyber-skills shortage within police forces. According to the report, only two percent of officers are trained to investigate cybercrime. Furthermore, police and intelligence officers face cutbacks and have to work with outdated, disjointed, and often siloed technology. But, if they are equipped with the right technology and relieved of excess admin duties, they can operate more efficiently.
How IT Can Help
One way governments can improve policing processes is by adopting new technologies, such as advanced analytics. Predictive analytics uses a variety of statistical methods (such as modelling and data mining) that analyze present and historical data to make predictions about the future. Police forces and intelligence officers can use this technology to pre-empt criminal activity and intervene before it takes place. They can also respond to critical matters in seconds, as it provides real-time visibility of events. In fact, the city of Boston has been able to reduce its crime rate by 55%, using predictive analytics to uncover hidden insights.
Situational Awareness Platform
A situational awareness platform can provide real-time visibility to operational public safety and security officials who are on the ground dealing with major incidents, serious crime, and emergencies. It helps police officers to get back on the streets faster by reducing excess paperwork and other admin duties – helping to create a safer environment for citizens. They can also reduce crime by uncovering hidden insights and getting to the root cause of the problem.
With a situational awareness platform, complex cities can run more efficiently, reduce crime, and its citizens can feel safe. To find out more and to see how it can help you, visit http://spr.ly/TopTip5-1
