NSW Police use ‘secret algorithm’ that judges how likely someone is to commit a crime

NSW Police has confirmed its law enforcement efforts are decided by a “secret algorithm” that judges how likely someone is to commit a crime.

NSW Police uses a ‘secret algorithm’ that judges how likely someone is to commit a crime.

IF YOU have ever felt like the police are constantly targeting you, it might have something to do with a “secret algorithm” that judges how likely someone is to commit a crime.

The algorithm calculates if a person has an extreme, high, medium or low risk at committing future crimes and creates a list of these people.

Lead author of the Policing Young People in NSW: A study of the Suspect Targeting Management Plan (STMP) report Dr Vicki Sentas explained an individual’s ranking influences how frequent they are searched or detained, with higher risk offenders visited at home at all hours of the day.

“This type of heavy-handed proactive policing is very damaging to the relationship between young people and the police and we believe it undermines key objectives of the NSW Justice system, including diversion, rehabilitation and therapeutic justice,” she told Business Insider.

The report, based on NSW police data from 10 local area commands over the 2015 financial year, found the algorithm held “discriminatory assumptions” against those under the age of 25 and indigenous citizens.

Report co-author Camilla Pandolfini said it was disturbing to see the STMP included a large number of children who were not even old enough to be in high school.

“Some young people, as young as 13, report being stopped and searched in public including on the train, sometimes several times a week, and visited at home by police, late at night, for no specific reason,” she said. “We know that children as young as 10 have been placed on an STMP. ”

The report referenced the case of one 15-year-old indigenous person placed on the list after theft convictions.

Police would monitor him from cars parked outside his home and would frequently confront him and his family.

As a result of the stigma attributed to the constant police presence, the family was evicted from their home.

Dr Sentas suggested police need to be more transparent about the algorithm and said they need to stop placing children under the age of 18 on the list.

“If NSW Police say the STMP prevents crime, then show us how — make the data publicly available and let the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research assess it,” she said.

“We also recommend that the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission conduct a comprehensive review, assessing whether the policy is consistent with fair, effective and appropriate policing not only for young people, but for everyone.”

NSW Police said the STMP was used without regard to age to prevent “recidivist criminal offenders” from committing further crimes.

“A thorough risk management framework is used to ensure the NSW Police Force is targeting the right people at the right times to reduce violence and crime in the community,” the statement read.

“On all occasions, the STMP undergoes a quality assurance process by a senior police officer to ensure the validity of the process. While deliberately engaged by police, STMP nominees are treated with respect and tolerance, but they are reminded that the community will not tolerate criminal behaviour.”