Police: DNA data collection, video surveillance


How do the police use ICT in their work.



1. Brainstorm the different uses of ICT in the police force.
2. Datamining databases of stored information about criminals
i. Describe the sorts of databases that the police would access and what techniques they would use to find the information.

3. IT to communicate e.g. Video conferencing, E-mail, blogs
i. Revise back from your work on Video conferencing and e-mail in year 12 and describe the uses of IT to communicate and how the Police Dept would benefit.
ii. Read the article – New Met Blogging rules spark Anger, BBC News, 13/03/2006 and discuss the issues raised.
4. Use of IP surveillance cameras around city centres – to monitor crime.
i. How does IP surveillance work?
ii. What advantages does IP surveillance have over the original CCTV?
5. Informing the public using their Website e.g. http://www.met.police.uk/
i. Visit this website and describe the main purpose of this site and the sort of features that are available.
ii. Visit other police sites – describe their similarities and differences.

6. Internet – as a source of information and a recruitment tool and to host ‘Most wanted’ sites
i. Read “Spooks go 0nline for new recruits”, 14 Oct 2005, www.vnet.com how is MI6 using the Internet in recruitment. Write a summary of how M16 use the web for recruitment.
ii. Visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wanted. Describe the information on this site and how it used to make a safer UK.
iii. How could You Tube be used by the Police to help deal with crimes?

7. Electronic tagging and tracking of known criminals or those on probation
i. Describe how the technology works
ii. Discuss the impact ankle tagging is having on the prison service; the criminals; the general public

8 Wiretapping/Internet monitoring and Monitoring of VOIP Calls
i. Read the article on Wiretapping http://people.howstuffworks.com/wiretapping.htm and write a brief description of how it works.
ii. How would the police – monitor internet usage?
iii. With the increasing popularity of VOIP to make calls, what impact has this had on the ability of the police to monitor phone calls?

9. IT at the scene of the crime – digital printing and shoe print analysis, DNA testing
i. Visit www.r2scrime.com/ and research the technology that can be used at the crime scene.
ii. Read Digital prints speed up detection, 05/09/06 and describe the technology being used
iii. Read Shoeprint analysis to fight crime, 31/03/06, BBC News and describe the technology used.
iv. Discuss the impact that these sorts of technologies are having on a) the police force; b) the criminals; c) the public
v. How is DNA retrieved from the crime scene and then used to identify the person at the scene?

10. GIS and Mapping – how is it being used to help solve crimes
i. Refer back to your work on GIS and describe how it can be used.
ii. Find several other articles to describe their uses. E.g. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3620024.stm Satellite tracking for criminals

Your teacher will allocate a use of ICT for you to research and answer the questions. Read the articles in your teachers pack to give you some background information on these topics and then do further research.


11. Legislation to fight cyber crime. The Computer Misuse Act. Research this legislation – what does it mean and how is it being used? Are there any new changes to this legislation?

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