When you think of successful policing, math may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But UCLA researchers are finding that algorithms can be key to preventing major crimes, such as car theft and robbery. The success of their method has led the Los Angeles Police Department to adopt an algorithm-based program for 19 of its 21 divisions that helps them deploy officers most effectively.
Traditionally, large police departments have turned to dedicated crime analysts to predict and prevent crime. These analysts weigh multiple factors each day to anticipate areas with a high risk for criminal activity.
But the algorithms developed by UCLA anthropology professor Jeffrey Brantingham, along with UCLA mathematics professor Andrea Bertozzi and other colleagues, improve the prediction process. The researchers take into account what types of crimes have recently occurred in an area, and at what times, in order to predict where and when crime is likely to occur. Their work enables patrolling police officers to be in the right place at the right time, deterring criminal activity in high-risk areas.