Government launches AI crime prevention challenge to support safer streets
Criminals hell bent on making others’ lives a misery face being stopped before they can strike through cutting edge mapping technology, supported by AI, to be rolled out by 2030, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Friday 15 August).
ADVERTISEMENT: Send Money Worldwide with Wise – Get a Free Transfer!
Innovators have been tasked with developing a detailed real time and interactive crime map that spans England and Wales and can detect, track and predict where devastating knife crime is likely to occur or spot early warning signs of anti-social behaviour before it spirals out of control – giving police the intel they need to step in and keep the public safe.
It will be rooted in advanced AI that will examine how to bring together data shared between police, councils and social services, including criminal records, previous incident locations and behavioural patterns of known offenders.
The map will identify where crime is concentrating so law enforcement and partners can direct their resources as needed and help prevent further victims.
The Concentrations of Crime Data Challenge sets teams from business, universities and beyond a clear and measurable target of coming together to develop the solution to be operational across England and Wales by 2030 and is part of the government’s £500 million R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.
As part of an initial £4 million government investment, teams will deliver initial prototypes to enhance the mapping system by April 2026 – a crucial milestone that supports the Safer Streets Mission as part of our Plan for Change, which aims to halve knife crime and Violence Against Women and Girls within a decade.
ADVERTISEMENT: Send Money Worldwide with Wise – Get a Free Transfer!
Whilst visiting the Met Police, Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:
The challenge builds on existing Home Office work, including sophisticated mapping technologies targeting knife crime hotspots and the summer-long Safer Streets Initiative tackling town centre crime, taking this foundation further through enhanced research, expanded data sources and deeper analysis to better understand crime patterns and measure the impact of interventions.
The Safer Streets Mission also supports the government’s commitment to put 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles.
Every neighbourhood will have a named, contactable officer dealing with local issues.
This announcement is the second challenge to be announced as part of the Programme, building on our Clean Energy challenge aiming to deliver cheaper bills for households across the UK by shifting electricity demand during evenings and weekends by two gigawatts by 2030 – the equivalent of 1.5 million homes.
ADVERTISEMENT: Send Money Worldwide with Wise – Get a Free Transfer!
Further challenges will be announced on how science and technology can build an NHS fit for the future, break down barriers to opportunity and drive growth to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change.
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch said:
Patrick Green, CEO of The Ben Kinsella Trust said:
Rebecca Bryant, CEO of Resolve said:
Matthew Evans, Director of Markets and Chief Operating Office, techUK said:
Tracey Burley, Chief Executive of St Giles, said:
Editor's Note: Can you say "Pre-Crime"?