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Title

 A GEOSPATIAL SUITE FOR CRIME COMBAT FOR THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE  

Abstract

Crime occurrences have location element which makes Geographical Information System (GIS) an effective analytical tool in the integration of spatial and non-spatial data of crime to enhance their geographical analysis. GIS enables law enforcement agencies to plan effectively for emergency responses, determine mitigation strategies, analyze historical events, and predict future events. It can also be used to get critical information to emergency responders upon dispatch or while en route to an incident to assist in tactical planning and response through integration with Global Positioning System (GPS). Although GIS offers tremendous capabilities to crime combat, the Ghana Police Service (GP) is yet to fully exploit this technology. Thus this research was aimed at developing a prototype geospatial suite for the Service to help in crime mapping, analysis and monitoring as well as police asset management. To achieve this aim, the operation of the GP has been studied and an information system that suits the Ghanaian environment developed. A GIS developed with the MapWindow GIS open source software allows a user to plot crime locations, perform statistical calculations and network analysis, and monitor in real time police personnel on patrol.

 

Authors

Samuel Ato Andam-Akorful - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Acquah B Agyemang - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Stylish Amankwah - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Sarah Suubam - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Frank Ankrah - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology