Police force harnesses AI to help catch stalkers

Cheshire Police has taken a significant step by becoming the first police force in the UK to implement artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI, in their investigations of stalking cases. The primary goal of this initiative is to identify patterns of behavior among suspects at an earlier stage, allowing officers to respond more swiftly to potential threats. Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox, who leads the dedicated stalking unit, emphasized that while AI will not replace the essential human element of policing, it will serve to enhance the capabilities of officers in the field. She assured the public that there are ethical guidelines and checks in place to ensure that the algorithms function as intended and do not compromise the integrity of investigations. Currently, the officers in the Harm Reduction Unit (HRU), which is responsible for investigating allegations of stalking and harassment, manually review evidence. On average, the unit handles around ten stalking cases each day. The police believe that AI can analyze incident reports in real-time while victims are still engaged in conversations with police call handlers. By utilizing information from the HRU and collaborating with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the AI algorithm will be trained to recognize stalking behaviors. The aim is for the technology to be sophisticated enough to flag potential stalking cases, even if the term 'stalking' is not explicitly mentioned by victims or witnesses. Dan Price, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, expressed his confidence in the technology's ability to expedite investigations. He successfully applied for £300,000 from the Police STAR (Science, Technology, Analysis, and Research) Fund to finance the new AI technology. Price explained that instead of relying on teams of individuals to sift through layers of data, AI can efficiently identify patterns and behaviors, thereby assisting in building cases at a much earlier stage. He noted that in other regions where AI has been employed to investigate various crimes, it has proven to be 25 times more effective than a single detective. Currently, approximately three-quarters of the cases handled by the HRU result in a suspect being charged. Price is optimistic that the introduction of this technology will lead to an increase in convictions and provide victims with faster protection. One victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous and is referred to as Amy, shared her experience of being stalked. She recounted a prolonged campaign of harassment by someone she knew, which escalated over time. Amy faced harassment at her workplace, received frightening phone calls at home, and was subjected to online abuse. Although she has returned to work, she continues to grapple with the trauma of her experience. Amy expressed her belief that AI technology could have potentially shortened her ordeal. She stated, 'While no one could have predicted a violent assault, what could have been picked up were elements of harassing behavior. ' She reflected on the possibility that if the signs had been recognized sooner, her situation might have been different. Amy's story highlights the importance of timely intervention in stalking cases. She mentioned that even after returning to work, she struggles with anxiety and finds it challenging to establish new relationships with colleagues. 'Had things been picked up sooner, who knows? Things could potentially have been prevented,' she said. If the AI program proves successful in Cheshire, there is potential for it to be implemented by other police forces across the nation, further enhancing the ability to protect victims of stalking and harassment.