Crime Commission plans geospatial upgrade

The Australian Crime Commission plans to evolve its geospatial analysis capabilities over the next five years to allow law enforcement officials to compare crime themes and patterns between states and suburbs.

The Commission said it would establish a panel of spatial intelligence suppliers from June 2010 to help with the incremental expansion of its existing geospatial systems.

In particular, it wanted the upgraded systems to offer "support to domestic operations targeting serious and organised crime" and to "assist with the identification and exploration of crime themes and patterns within Australia and in particular allow for comparative analysis of states and territories as well as suburbs."

Under its plan, system users would be able to create custom map layers to aid in their decision-making.

It is seeking geospatial information system software and support, vector and raster maps and consulting services from companies on the panel.

The Commission is a Commonwealth statutory body that aims to bring together all arms of intelligence gathering and law enforcement to unify the fight against serious and organised criminal activity.