Latest news from Loughborough University

5 Nov 2015

New system will help police forces find the optimum location for its officers

A new computer modelling tool which could help police forces to position their officers to provide the optimum response time is being developed at Loughborough University.

The research aims to address challenges in police staff allocation and route planning to ensure forces can provide an effective and quick response to emergency calls with increasingly limited resources.

Led by Dr Lisa Jackson and Dr Sarah Dunnett from the University’s School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, the research team is initially working with Leicestershire Police to develop the new system.

Using historical data on incident hotspots and officer locations they are developing an adaptable computer programme that will enable police forces to significantly enhance their response times, even when operating in an uncertain environment.

“Given the huge budget cuts that are in place for police forces across the country, there is a fundamental need to evaluate current working practices and make changes,” Dr Dunnett explains.

“Using complex predictive modelling tools the system we are developing will tell police forces the optimal place for individual officer positioning.  This positioning will put officers in or on routes that enable them to react quickly to emergency calls, whilst at the same time maximising their visibility on the streets.

“The system will also be fully adaptable, changing for each day of the week and month of the year, and to take into account large scale events or unexpected incidents. All the time providing the optimal positioning for offices for that day’s set of circumstances.

“This level of sophistication is not currently seen within any police force and its potential impact on reducing crime is immense.”

Inspector Ivan Odell from Leicestershire Police added: “We are very pleased to be supporting Loughborough University in this innovative research project.  In these times of austerity we are very keen to maximise the use of technology to assist us in effectively and efficiently deploying our finite resources.”

Other users for the finished system could include other emergency services, the military and disaster relief agencies.

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 15/208

  • Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts  please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com

  • Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

    It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015.Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. It was 2nd in the 2015 THE Student Experience Survey and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

    In September 2015 the University opened an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise.

Contact for all media enquiries

Judy Wing

PR Manager
Loughborough University
T: 01509 228697
E: J.L.Wing@lboro.ac.uk