The UK government has announced plans to launch an AI-powered system that can predict crimes before they happen. This new system will be based on a real-time, interactive crime map covering England and Wales. According to officials, it will highlight areas where offences like theft, knife attacks, or violent incidents are most likely to occur, allowing police to intervene earlier.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already becoming part of daily life. From handling personal tasks to boosting productivity in offices, AI has made work easier. Governments, too, are increasingly turning to AI, not just for research and transport, but also for improving safety and security.
The upcoming crime map will collect and analyse data from various sources, including police records, social services, and local councils. By studying past incidents, the behaviour of repeat offenders, and other risk factors, the system will use AI to identify early warning signs and possible crime hotspots.
This initiative is part of the government’s £500 million R&D Missions Accelerator Programme and is expected to be fully operational by 2030. As a start, £4 million has been allocated to research teams, who aim to deliver the first working models by April 2026. Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, said the goal is to “be smarter on crime” by using technology to prevent offences before they escalate.
The project builds on earlier UK initiatives such as hotspot mapping for knife crime and the Safer Streets Initiative. Unlike traditional crime maps that only show incidents after they occur, this new version will provide predictive insights so that police can act in advance.
Similar projects have been tried in other countries. In the United States, predictive policing tools in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago faced criticism for racial bias and limited success, eventually leading to their shutdown. On the other hand, the Netherlands’ Crime Anticipation System (CAS) has shown positive results in reducing burglary rates, while Danish police have effectively used AI to investigate fraud.
With this new project, the UK hopes to learn from both the failures and successes of other nations and create a fairer, more accurate system to help prevent crime in the future.
