08-9
Chapter One
Developing geographical
information systems and
crime mapping tools in
New Zealand
Andy Gilmour and Jill Barclay
1.1 The starting point
New Zealand (NZ) Police decided as part of a new records management system
(RMS) being developed during the mid-1990s, that a key reporting tool for this
system would be geographical information system (GIS) based, that would allow
users to query police systems to ascertain patterns of crime, by specific areas in
requested time frames.
Based on site visits made in North America, NZ Police information and
communication technology (ICT) staff commenced analysis of a client-based GIS
package to be tailored to local, personal needs. The approach taken was that ICT
would develop the tool and then gauge end-user interest of what would be the
final product. Nationwide interest was assessed and the front-end GIS application
was developed for an initial rollout of 19 analyst sites throughout NZ Police. The
product was delivered in early 1999.
This approach resulted in limited frontline interest due to two main ... read full excerpt from Crime Mapping Case Studies: Practice and Research ebook
