Artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to predict which people are likely to become criminals as the government looks to step up intervention measures to prevent at-risk children from falling into a life of crime.
A new scheme launched by the Ministry of Justice aims to develop a system that will alert schools, health staff, and other professionals when individuals are likely to be pulled into crime.
The scheme will use existing data that is divided between multiple government departments and authorities.
The government will use this data to identify at-risk children and target them with support and intervention to prevent them from slipping into crime.
A government spokesperson told The Times: “We are looking at how we can better use AI and machine learning to essentially predict the criminals of the future, but to do so ethically and morally.
“It’s about ensuring the data from the NHS, social services, police, Department for Work and Pensions, and education is used effectively, and then using AI so you can go above and beyond what we can currently do.
Children who spent time in care were identified as significantly more likely to go on to commit crime in later life
PA Wire
“This is going to be pretty transformative in how we put money and resources into prevention. We keep getting the same profiles of criminals in the justice system, but we’re intervening far too late.
“This isn’t about criminalising people but making sure the alarms in the system are better understood, and data and AI modelling can do that much better.”
According to data reported by The Times, children who have been in care, excluded from school, neurodiverse, and those from ethnic minority or deprived backgrounds are significantly more likely.
Around 33 per cent of children who have been in care receive a caution while under the age of 18, a sharp increase compared to 4 per cent of those who have not been in care.
Official data shows that 80 per cent of children in youth detention are neurodiverse, and black children are significantly more likely to end up in prison than white children.
It is hoped that earlier intervention will ensure better outcomes for children who are at risk of falling into a life of crime.
