Published Aug 17, 2026 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2026 | 8:00 AM
police forces are increasingly turning to data to anticipate crime, deploy personnel and strengthen investigations. (iStock)
Synopsis: Kerala Police is moving towards predictive policing with a ₹2-crore Integrated Data Analytics Centre that will bring together crime data, mapping and business intelligence tools to identify emerging patterns and hotspots. The initiative aims to help police anticipate and prevent crime. However, experts are not impressed. They cautioned that such systems must account for gaps and biases in the data they rely on.
From tracking crime patterns to identifying emerging hotspots, the Kerala Police is preparing to take its data-driven policing efforts a step ahead. They plan to set up an Integrated Data Analytics Centre (iDAC), a move aimed at giving predictive policing a stronger footing in the state.
The proposed centre is expected to bring together data from different policing systems and make greater use of Business Intelligence (BI) tools such as Power BI, Cognos and Tableau.
The idea of strengthening data analytics in policing has been under consideration since 2022, but the plan has only recently taken shape.
The state police already have the Integrated Core Policing System (iCoPS), which brings together key policing functions on a common platform and supports operational efficiency and service delivery.
Its Analytics Portal provides interactive dashboards and real-time data analysis, while the GIS Crime Mapping system allows officers to examine crime patterns geographically and identify trends and hotspots.
With the proposed iDAC, the police are looking to build on these existing systems and make better use of the vast amount of data generated through policing activities.
The focus is expected to move beyond analysing what has already happened to identifying patterns that could help police anticipate where and how crimes may occur.
If implemented as planned, the iDAC could add another layer to Kerala’s technology-driven policing initiatives, giving officers a more integrated view of crime data and enabling decision-making based on patterns, trends and ground-level inputs.
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The state government has approved the new facility as part of its 2026-27 State Plan.
The iDAC is one of three new schemes approved for the Police Department, with a total outlay of ₹9 crore.
The move is aimed at strengthening the department’s data-handling and analytical capabilities by bringing together computing infrastructure, storage and related working systems.
Besides having BI tools such as Power BI, Cognos and Tableau, the centre will also have provisions for training and skill development. The project also includes expenditure on the working environment and other infrastructure required for the centre.
The state government had earmarked ₹17,380 lakh for the Police Department under various heads for the financial year 2026-27.
On 7 July, the State Police Chief submitted proposals for three new schemes, seeking a total allocation of ₹9 crore under the State Plan.
The proposals were placed before the Working Group on 8 July. After examining the proposals, the Working Group approved all three schemes.
The government subsequently examined the top cop’s recommendations and the proposal before according administrative sanction for the three schemes.
Besides the iDAC, the approved schemes include Police Network and Connectivity Charges and measures for the Security of Vital Institutions (Sabarimala).
Home Secretary Minhaj Alam, on behalf of the state government, accorded approval to the schemes on 6 August.
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Policing has traditionally been about responding to a crime after its occurrence.
Such an approach is increasingly being supplemented by a more data-driven model in which police forces analyse past incidents, locations, timings, offender profiles and other information to identify where and when trouble could emerge.
From crime maps and hotspot analysis to artificial intelligence and business intelligence dashboards, police forces are increasingly turning to data to anticipate crime, deploy personnel and strengthen investigations.
This is the premise behind predictive policing.
At its simplest, the method involves feeding large volumes of police data into analytical models and looking for patterns that may offer clues about future criminal activity.
The objective is not to replace conventional investigation, but to help officers narrow their focus, deploy resources more efficiently and intervene before a situation develops into a crime.
The shift is already visible in India.
In June 2026, the Union government said it was working towards a predictive policing framework using artificial intelligence, machine learning and pattern analysis to identify repeat offenders and inter-state criminal networks.
“Predictive policing generally works around four broad questions: where and when a crime is likely to occur, who may be at risk of becoming an offender, who may be vulnerable to becoming a victim, and what patterns can be identified from earlier crimes,” an official associated with iCoPS said.
He said the police will use techniques such as:
This would turn a large collection of seemingly unrelated records into information that police can use to prevent a crime.
But experts cautioned that the technology is only as reliable and fair as the data fed into it.
The biggest weakness of predictive policing may also be its most basic feature: dependence on data.
“An algorithm can identify patterns in the information it receives. It cannot independently determine whether that information is complete, representative or shaped by earlier policing practices,” a cyber expert with Cyberdome (the Cyber Centre of Excellence of Kerala Police, conceived to prevent cybercrimes) said.
“The feedback loop is high. Studies of predictive policing have raised concerns that historical policing patterns can be reproduced by algorithms, potentially increasing surveillance of communities that were already subject to heavier policing,” he further stated.
Another cybersecurity professional associated with Cyberdome added that such systems should be treated strictly as decision-support tools, helping officers assess information and make informed judgments.
“They should not be allowed to make decisions independently or determine the course of police action on their own,” he said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
