Esri UK Helps Crimestoppers Step Up Its Fight Against Crime

Aylesbury, March 22nd 2012 – Esri UK, the leading provider of geographic information systems (GIS), has announced a strategic partnership with the charity Crimestoppers, to explore how GIS can help the charity make more accurate information about criminal activities available to the police.  As part of the partnership, Esri UK will provide Crimestoppers with software and consultancy skills.

With more than 90,000 calls expected to its UK bureau this year alone, Crimestoppers anticipates that GIS could play a major role in helping the organisation make the best use of the information received. For example, GIS could be used in conjunction with call centre systems to plot the precise locations of crimes, whilst continuing to ensure the anonymity of callers.   This more accurate, detailed information could help the police in its official investigations and help improve both the detection and prevention of crime, once the information has been analysed and passed onto them.

Esri UK and Crimestoppers will also explore how GIS could be used to help the public provide more detailed information online.  By integrating web-based GIS services into Crimestoppers’ existing website, the public could simply go online and plot the location of crimes or suspect incidents or sightings. This and other similar GIS applications could help Crimestoppers improve the speed and effectiveness of its collaboration with the public.

“We are confident that a more geo-spatial approach to crime detection will be of enormous benefit to Crimestoppers,” commented Budgie Dhanda, General Manager for DNSPS for Esri UK.  “The charity provides the police with remarkable levels of information and we are proud to support both Crimestoppers and its partners in their continued fight against crime.”   

Chief Executive for Crimestoppers, Mick Laurie, said: “We aim to put a stop to crime by giving the police more accurate, timely information and are delighted to have Esri UK’s support.

“They are giving Crimestoppers generous assistance as a corporate supporter and if GIS can help us to provide more useful information to the police, and make it easier for people to share what they know through our anonymous number or secure online form, we can be even more effective in the fight against crime.”

Sarah Webb

PR & Corporate Comms Manager, Esri UK

swebb@esriuk.com / 07515 330374

Kieran Theivam

Crimestoppers Media Officer

0208 835 3727/Kieran.theivam@crimestoppers-uk.org

About Esri UK
Esri UK is the leading provider of geographic information system (GIS) technology, helping businesses become more profitable and public service more efficient through a better understanding and analysis of location-based information. Esri UK offers an extensive range of GIS technology and professional services and is the only company in the UK providing a complete and entirely integrated GIS solution.

Esri UK has been providing GIS solutions for over 20 years to a wide range of markets including Central & Local Government, Utilities & Telecommunications, Defence & National Security, Education, Public Safety and Commercial.  Customers include Birmingham City Council, Defra, the Environment Agency, Metropolitan Police Service, Ministry of Defence, Ordnance Survey, RSA Group, Scottish Power and The Crown Estate.

About Crimestoppers

Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer.   It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes, anonymously.   They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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