The Home Office-backed International Crime Science conference will run on July 16 and 17 at the British Library.
The organisers are the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at University College London. According to JDI, the event showcases the latest techniques and technologies in combating crime and increasing security, with a focus on surveillance, forensic science, biometrics and counter-terrorism.
Invited speakers
Invited speakers include Olympics security advisor Dr Peter Ryan; Prof Lord Winston, Emeritus Prof of Fertility Studies, Imperial College; Prof Steven Bains, Human Genetics Commission; Dr Randal Richards, chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; Prof Chris Lowe, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology; and broadcaster Nick Ross.
The institute reports that it aims to attract senior private and public sector practitioners in security and crime reduction, besides technology entrepreneurs and manufacturers, and academics. In 2003 the insitute, in memory of the murdered BBC broadcaster, was officially launched by Nick Ross, who commented then on ‘the huge potential to design out temptations and opportunities for crime, by applying concepts that are routine within a wide variety of disciplines such as physics, chemistry, material and life sciences, electrical and mechanical engineering, forensic science, epidemiology and industrial design’. In a word, the aim is to get upstream of crime.
Mapping
For instance, another JDI crime mapping conference is running on May 9 and 10 at the Tower Guoman Hotel in London. Police and others in the field will show how it is possible to ‘map’ crimes, and ‘hot-spots’ where crimes have clustered. The aim: to better detect and prevent crime. Speakers include Prof Gloria Laycock and Spencer Chainey of JDI.
