Critical Understanding of Predictive Policing

Predictive software techniques are increasingly embedded into a wide range of policing practices. However these software techniques impact such institutions beyond gained efficiency and speed. They bring with them logics of prediction, anticipation, evolvability, and synchronization. With these logics come particular forms of governance and knowledge creation. The focus is on how Predictive software play a role in how policing is re-imagined and enacted. This project examines the processes of procurement and implementation as well as how these systems are used in specific encounters with citizens. Specifically, the project will focus on case of digital infrastructures in Denmark, Estonia, Norway, Sweden and the UK. We will investigate expectations in relation to the procurement of these digital platforms. First, the media coverage and public debate around the software and predictive policing in general will be gathered, analyzed and visualized in order to identify salient concerns as well as non-debated issues. Second, a round of interviews with different actors, including the police will be conducted.