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    Bulawayo is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance crime prevention in the city.

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    Artificial intelligence (AI) – a branch of science and engineering dedicated to creating machines that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence – is being leveraged by law enforcement to detect patterns in data that humans may overlook.

    In Bulawayo, the police, in partnership with the Bulawayo Business Against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe and several church groups, recently introduced the Smart City Surveillance System to help curb crime in the Central Business District (CBD).

    The CCTV system is effective in reducing vehicle-related crimes, such as tracking vehicles involved in unlawful activities or causing disturbances. Speaking during a media engagement meeting on Monday, ZRP Cybercrime expert Assistant Commissioner Arista Chikowore emphasized the force’s commitment to keeping pace with technological advancements. He said CCTVs were not enough in crime prevention and there was need to add other tools and capabilities.

    “We are using those capabilities in crime prevention and detection. We also have technical persons who are working on that,” he said.

    Ass Com Chikowore implored the media and members of the public to support the initiative, noting that the system can achieve greater effectiveness with collaborative efforts. He elaborated on the system’s potential to prevent incidents by proactively identifying individuals and areas that may require police attention.

    “A good example is of a paedophile who has been arrested sometime but is not committing an offence at that particular time, but if we identify that person in the system, an alert can be sent to schools that want to employ him or any place he is going. We quickly alert the nearest police station as well as authorities around so that we prevent crime,” he explained.

    Chikowore underscored the need for AI capabilities to enhance the basic surveillance function of the system.

    Meanwhile, Bulawayo has seen an eight percent drop in crime from January to September, compared to the same period last year, with the police attributing the reduction to strengthened partnerships with stakeholders and the integration of AI in law enforcement efforts.

    Despite the recent Ecobank heist where robbers went away with US$4 million, the police report a sharp drop in armed robbery cases, from 44 incidents in 2023 to 22 this year. However, challenges remain in murder cases, which have seen an increase from 41 last year to 51 this year during the same period.

    New Ziana

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