Overview

• The UK government is developing a data-driven algorithm to assess the risk of individuals committing serious violent crimes, focusing on convicted offenders.
• Initially named the 'homicide prediction project,' the initiative has been rebranded as 'sharing data to improve risk assessment.'
• Documents obtained by Statewatch reveal that sensitive data, including mental health and addiction information, may be included in the analysis, raising privacy concerns.
• The Ministry of Justice insists the project is purely for research purposes and aims to enhance existing risk assessment tools used by probation and prison services.
• Critics, including Statewatch's Sofia Lyall, argue that the reliance on historical data from police and other sources risks reinforcing systemic biases against minority and low-income communities.