The Changing Role of New Zealand Police with The Introduction of New Technologies: How Far Should 3 The Law Respond?

Abstract

The introduction of predictive policing tools, which analyse crime data and find patterns to calculate likely crime ‘hotspots’, have created controversy around the world as their implementation has ensued. The use of predictive policing technologies has raised concerns for individuals civil liberties, particularly raising in bias, prejudice and privacy issues.

This paper looks at how the traditional role of Police is changing with the introduction of new and readily available technologies, focusing particularly on predictive policing technologies, and how the law should facilitate this change in role. The paper then analyses the positive aspects of both the potential of use and the established use of these new technologies and the negative issues they have the potential to provoke. To facilitate the use of predictive policing technologies, there requires a balance of protection of the public and making this protection as economical and practical as possible, with the protection of individuals civil liberties, privacy and protection from racial bias and prejudice.

A recommendation for how New Zealand can safely and successfully implement predictive policing technologies is established at the end of the paper, with emphasis put on transparency and regulation around their use.