THREAD

The Origins software specialises in identifying ethnicity from people’s names and then links this further to specific types of criminal behaviour. Police use of this software heightens already well-aired concerns about racial profiling. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/27/met-police-use-software-ethnic-groups-specialise-profile

The fact that the Met and other forces now see a need to rely on such dubious data analytics in order to reach an ‘understanding of the communities’ within their areas is a sign of just how far we have moved away from the traditions of community policing and policing by consent.

This is due in no small measure to their disproportionate and excessive use of stop and search, handcuffing and Tasers against black people.

We would argue that this matter now goes beyond the Webber Phillips consultancy’s involvement with the Metropolitan police, as any data mining exercise that takes place without privacy and human rights safeguards is problematic in and of itself.

We would want to know whether @MOPACLdn, partner organisations and local authorities were consulted about the purpose of detailed ward level mapping.

As this information comes to light at a time when police and Black community relations in the capital are extremely fraught, it’s inevitable that the Met’s use of demographic mapping will be viewed with suspicion and seen for what it is, racial profiling. ENDS

Postscript: Read our original thread on the Origins Software that first broke this story. Thanks to @Haroon_Siddique for furthering the investigation and bringing this to wider attention. https://twitter.com/IRR_News/status/1255854353220546566?s=19