Cheshire Police Uses AI to Detect Stalking Patterns Earlier

Cheshire Police has become the first force in the United Kingdom to use artificial intelligence to assist in stalking investigations.

Credit: BBC

The technology is designed to identify patterns of stalking behaviour at an earlier stage, potentially speeding up investigations and improving victim protection.

Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox, who leads the stalking unit, said AI would not replace officers but would enhance their work. She added that ethics committees and safeguards are in place to ensure the algorithms function as intended.

Currently, officers in the Harm Reduction Unit (HRU) manually review evidence in stalking and harassment cases. The unit handles about 10 cases daily.

The AI system will analyse incident reports in real time, even while victims are still speaking with police call handlers. It is being trained using data from the HRU and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to recognise stalking behaviours, even if the term "stalking" is not explicitly mentioned.

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price secured GBP 300,000 from the Police STAR (Science, Technology, Analysis and Research) Fund to implement the technology.

Price said AI could identify patterns and build cases faster than human teams, noting that in other regions, AI has been up to 25 times more effective than individual detectives.

Currently, 75% of HRU cases result in a suspect being charged. Price believes the new system will increase conviction rates and provide faster protection for victims.

One victim, referred to as Amy, said she endured a prolonged campaign of harassment that escalated to a violent assault. She believes AI could have helped detect the warning signs earlier and possibly prevented the attack.

---

• Cheshire Police is the first UK force to use AI in stalking investigations

• AI analyses reports in real time to detect stalking patterns

• The system is trained using data from the HRU and Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Source: BBC