Web-based crime mapping in UP from April 1

In a first for country, the Uttar Pradesh police is coming up with web-based crime mapping on Google from April 1.

The facility would enable the state police to map, visualise and analyse the crime pattern of a specific location. “Training to understand the working of the system was imparted to policemen from Agra on Wednesday, while those from Meerut would get the same on Thursday,” said Ashutosh Pandey, inspector general, provincial armed constabulary (east zone) on Wednesday.

“Under the system, all police stations of the state would upload the last three year crime data, detailing its type, place and time. This would be transferred to online database,” said Pandey.

“The software would utilise geographical information system (GIS) of Google map and the local police would map the crime pattern of particular spot so that required measures could be taken according to the revelations,” Pandey, who is the incharge of the project, added.

Sharing details, the IG (PAC) said the identification of crime sensitive areas on google maps could help in placing of police check posts and pickets in an effective manner.

“The idea is to identify the pattern and frequency of crime at a particular spot,” he said while citing an example of vehicle theft cases. “The rate of vehicle theft is highest in Agra. Most of the vehicle thefts are reported from Hariparvat area. In Hariparvat area, the frequency of theft is maximum in Sanjay Place. This analysis would assist us in taking best possible measures to avert this pattern of crime in specific area,” stated Pandey while dubbing the process as spatio-temporal pattern of crime.