Prospective crime mapping in operational context Final report

export the maps themselves, which could then be interrogated in detail by the Section Sergeantsusing the software provided. Consequently, the Intelligence Analysts trained each LIO to use thesoftware once they had acquired the relevant equipment, in this case laptops. Unfortunately, due tologistical issues involved in acquiring the laptops, this did not take place until the end of December intwo sections and the end of January in the other three. Thus, this solution was not fully realised untilvery late in the pilot period. Figure 5.1 illustrates this method of dissemination.A fourth method of dissemination was through the fortnightly tactical assessment and co-ordinationmeetings. The maps were used during these sessions if, and only if, the Command Team felt thatburglary had been a significant concern over the last two weeks. These meetings allowed for afocused discussion of the maps and potential tactical options that could be used in the identifiedareas. One such response that evolved in January 2006 was that of a collaboration between theCommunity Safety Team who worked with the Division to organise and implement a promap-specifictargeted operation. The operation was intended to provide high visibility policing and crime reductionmeasures to the areas identified through Promap, with the intention of:• increasing public awareness around home security and property marking; and• increasing neighbourhood watch schemes in priority areas.This involved the co-ordination of the Divisional Community Safety Unit and all sections. To elaborate,on days that the maps were produced (i.e. Mondays and Thursdays) one Section Beat Officer and oneCommunity Safety Constable would use the Mobile Police Station (i.e. a marked police van) with theintention of targeting identified hotspots in two ways: firstly by providing a high visibility presence todeter potential offenders; and secondly to increase public awareness visiting residential premises inthe identified areas giving out crime reduction advice, making home security assessments whereneeded, referrals to other agencies and considering whether a neighbourhood watch scheme wouldbe appropriate for the identified area(s). It was felt by ‘A’ Division as well as the research team thatthis collaboration was a success in its own right as it helped improve the already good relationshipbetween the Community Safety Unit, community partners and front-line Beat Officers.47