Prof. Kim Rossmo on Geographic Profiling - interview

 

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Prof. Kim Rossmo on Geographic Profiling - interview

 

SKN:

So, Kim, thank you very much for agreeing to speak with me and I know it’s the middle of the night for you, about half past midnight, 6 o’clock in the morning here for me in the UK. I do really appreciate you taking that time. Would you mind starting by telling our viewers your short definition of what geographic profiling is. Some people will not have heard of it – it is something you swim and bathe in daily, but for some people it’s new. How would you just give them a quick explanation of what it is so they really get it?

 

Kim:

Geographic profiling is a criminal investigative methodology that uses the locations of a connected series of crimes to determine the most probable area where the offender responsible for those crimes is based. So, let’s say we have a serial arsonist or a serial robber or a rapist: We analyse the locations where those crimes have occurred, and then, using a specialised software system produce maps that show the most likely areas to find the offender. So you could think of it as an information management strategy or as a suspect prioritisation tool. It helps you find the needle in the haystack.