Law enforcement and policing

Data driven decision making has rapidly become part of everyday life, from online shopping, to credit rating, welfare systems, and policing. The use of data in decision making is nothing new. Police have collected, analysed and used data to solve crimes, profile potential suspects and provide evidence in court. What is new, is that the amount of available data in combination with increased computational capacities, which has enabled policing to move from a responsive to predictive and pre-emptive crime approach.

This research aims to re-politicize the debate around data driven policing and justice in a quantified society. Providing empirical evidence on three case studies, it aims to analyse data driven police practices through a data justice lens. Seeking to understand the governance models around data driven policing in Europe, and it’s impact on marginalized communities.

The research will provide a European framework of study and take a holistic approach by situating research on data driven policing in the context of a) the concrete experiences and practices of particular communities; b) technological analyses of data sources, algorithmic process and data output; c) policy frameworks that relate to the interplay between digital rights and social and economic rights.

Photo by John Webster on Unsplash.