Use of Red Cross Emblem by McDonalds

Australian free to air TV channels are current screen a McDonald's advertisement for "McHappy Day". This features a building with a sign saying "Children's Hospital" and a red cross next to it. The use of the emblem of a red cross on a white background is reserved under Australian and international law for use by the Red Cross organization and authorized humanitarian work (Geneva Conventions). It would be a good idea for McDonald's to modify the advertisement to remove the red cross.

Social Networking and Policing

I was just interviewed by Win News Canberra, about the use of social networking by the police. I said how police need to be online, with the electronic equivalent of the bobby walking the beat, getting to know people and recommit a familiar face they can turn to in times of need.

However, online literacy needs to be incorporate into courses for students and teachers. At primary school I was trained in how to make an emergency phone call to Triple-Zero, as telephones at home were relatively new. Similarly children need to be formally trained in how to communicate online, and how to avoid dangerous situations. ACMA have a curriculum for teachers on this, which the AFP should join in.

Also some of this will be discussed at Meta 2011, next week.

Bachelor of Counter Terrorism Online

Open Universities Australia, a consortium of universities offering online degrees, is now advertising a "Bachelor of Counter Terrorism", via Google ads. The web site this links to explains the degree is actually a Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism and Counter-terrorism). Most of the units appear to be provided by Murdoch University, with titles such as "Spies, Saboteurs and Secret Agents".

Knowledge Management for Crime Prevention

Professor Paul Ekblom (University of the Arts London) talked at the Australian Institute of Criminology in Canberra this morning on "Securing the knowledge: the 5I’s framework for improving performance in crime prevention, security and community safety".

He looked at why crime prevention schemes which work well as small pilot projects fail when applied on a larger scale. He argues that there was a failure to handle the complexity and "messiness" of such schemes in practice. Also projects have to consider the community reaction, otherwise sound schemes will not survive criticism from media commentators.

Professor Ekblom discussed knowledge requirements. He suggested structure, content, terminology. Existing frameworks, such as SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response and
assessment) and Crime Triangle were criticised for being lacking in structure (like a wardrobe with no shelves).

Professor Ekblom argued for clear definitions, a five step process model: Intelligence, Intervention, Implementation, Involvement, Impact. He then described "Operation Moonshine" in the UK. This was to deter under-age drinking in a shopping centre, which upset the shoppers and attracted drug dealers. Interventions included: modification of carrier bags, high visibility police patrols, behaviours contracts, and removing flower beds. The last was done as bricks from the flower bed were used as missiles and used for congregating. To prevent ram raids bollards were installed, but shaped so they could not be sat on. A "youth shelter" was built away from the shopping centre. To cover offensive graffiti, the local police took the initiative to carry their own spray cans

One aspect which seemed to be lacking from Professor Ekblom's analysis was an acknowledgement for the need to train personnel involved in implementing a strategy and the requirement to allocate sufficient resources. Otherwise any new initiative will be rightly seen by the front line personnel as just a publicity exercise.

Curiously climate change issues came up in the presentation: high brightness street lights are one option for deterring street crime but increase energy use and therefore carbon emissions. Professor Ekblom might like to look at some of the newer LED lighting systems and intelligent controls (such smart infrastructure is discussed in my Green IT course) . These can be used to precisely position light where it is needed, thus reducing energy use. It can also create contrasts between lit and unlit areas, making the light appear brighter and safer. Intelligent light controls can also be used to adjust the light level dynamically. This might be used, for example, to brighten an area subtly if the system detects suspicious behaviour.

It would be unfortunate if Professor Ekblom's analysis was only applied to dealing with young people hanging around shopping centres. Also it would be unfortunate if social problems are to be criminalised and left to be dealt with by the police. Most law and order issues are dealt with by the community, with only a small number coming to the attention of the Police.The Police only have a minor role in crime prevention and to focus strategies on Police action may make the problem worse, rather than better.

Statistics show that crime is not increasing in Australia, despite public perception. The priority therefore should not be to decrease the level of crime, but to make people feel safer. Some "Crime Prevention" techniques can be used to help this, whereas others may make the situation worse, by making the public feel less safe.

Holden Commodore US Police Cars

According to media reports from the the Frankfurt motor show General Motors is planning to sell Australian made Commodore cars to US law enforcement agencies.

In March when speaking at a public safety communications conference in Sydney, I tried out several prototype police cars. One was a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) squad car (LAPD officers were speaking at the conference).

The vehicle was fitted with a large portrait format touch screen in the centre console, replacing the clutter of controls common in police vehicles. The Commodore is a large vehicle, allowing room for the equipment carried in police cars. There was also an upgraded electrical supply fitted.

While I only got to sit in the stationary LAPD car, I did have a ride in the back of one of the unmarked cars. This was fitted with discrete LED red and blue lights and also had recharging stations for police torches in the back. In place of the touch screen this car had a compact keyboard in a holster on the side of the transmission tunnel. The officer in the passenger seat could pull the keyboard out of the holster and put it on their lap, using the console mounted screen for looking up the police database.

The LAPD prototype was based on the US export version of the Holden commodore. The vehicle was branded as a GM Pontiac G8 for the US market. This was dropped after GM's financial difficulties. But the Commodore is still engineered for construction in left hand drive for the US market. As an example, the instrument cluster for the driver's side of the car is designed to be swapped with the glove box on the passenger's side. Also the handbrake on the driver's side of the transmission tunnel is swapped with a grab handle on the passenger's side. This would allow a small number to be made for US police use.

Hybrid Police Car

While at the Belconnen Mall in Canberra yesterday, I noticed a Toyota Prius hybrid car in Australian Federal Police markings. I assume this is not used for pursuit, but it was equipped with lights.

Touch screen in Prototype Pontiac G8 for LAPD

This is a photo of me operating the large portrait format touch screen in the centre console of the prototype Pontiac G8 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) squad car. The screen replaces the clutter of controls common in police vehicles.

The car was unveiled at the APOCA 2009 Conference in Sydney, 2 March 2009. It was developed by National Safety Agency and is based on the US export version of the Australian made Holden commodore.

Photo by John Weippert, NT Police Fire and Emergency Services.

Prototype Pontiac G8 for LAPD

Prototype Pontiac G8 for LAPD ,
originally uploaded by tomw99au.

This is a prototype Pontiac G8 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) squad car. It is based on the US export version of the Australian made Holden commodore. The vehicle is fitted with a large portrait format touch screen in the centre console, replacing the clutter of controls common in police vehicles. The car was unveiled at the APOCA 2009 Conference in Sydney, 2 March 2009. It was developed by National Safety Agency.