In the USA, law enforcement agencies have discovered that partnering with a team of mathematicians and social scientists from UCLA can help them determine where crime is likely to occur and so enable them to stop it before it happens.

In this lecture Andrea Bertozzi will tell the story behind her role on the UCLA team that developed a ‘predictive policing’ computer programme that zeros-in on areas that have the highest probability of crime. She will also discuss how mathematics play an increasing role in studying crime, especially gang crime.