Karnataka will be first state in the country to implement a unique system of crime mapping that is expected to add teeth to the police methods of investigation and prevention.

Crime mapping will be launched on New Year’s Day in Bangalore and Mangalore districts and gradually extended to the entire state. It is based on the geographic information system (GIS), which is a digital map based on an integrated package for input, storage, analysis and output of spatial information on crime.

Additional DGP KU Channa Srinivasan discussed the concept today at a seminar on police research organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development. He said the tool would be of immense help since it would offer a “readymade” reference to the crime densities and patterns in the two districts.

“Once the pattern is known, the investigating team automatically gathers several leads. The primary thrust for the project came from the already efficient computer infrastructure available in Karnataka,” he said adding data would be upgraded on a regular basis. The system will be based on two different modules developed by the computer wing of the Karnataka Police. For Mangalore, a software earlier made by the NCRB was modified to suit local conditions.