Matt Ashby
@mattashby.com
I help people use data to reduce crime. Associate Professor, Crime Science, UCL. Former police officer.
🌐: mattashby.com
🌐: mattashby.com
Reposted by Matt Ashby
"use the full length of the platform" is not an instruction you can personally put into practice, unless you are an anaconda, in which case you should not be on the piccadilly line for other reasons
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 PM
"use the full length of the platform" is not an instruction you can personally put into practice, unless you are an anaconda, in which case you should not be on the piccadilly line for other reasons
Interesting survey on what people (🇺🇸) think should disqualify people from joining the police (eg hard drug use, schizophrenia, violent/sexual convictions) and what shouldn’t (eg marijuana/steroid use, ADHD, anxiety, depression, minor convictions).
Assessing Police Recruit Disqualifiers: Public Attitudes Toward Drug Use, Mental Illness, Education, and Criminal Offending - Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
Current workforce shortages have led many police agencies to evaluate their hiring standards to increase the number of candidates they receive. Although getting more individuals into the profession…
doi.org
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Interesting survey on what people (🇺🇸) think should disqualify people from joining the police (eg hard drug use, schizophrenia, violent/sexual convictions) and what shouldn’t (eg marijuana/steroid use, ADHD, anxiety, depression, minor convictions).
People posting hate speech on social media were more likely to recant/apologise if other users posted replies evoking empathy for the victim, compared to replies attacking the person posting or trying to rebut their hate speech with facts.
How Do Those Who Post Hate Speech Respond to Different Counter-speech Strategies?
Hate speech flourishes online. In addition to the (automated) detection and removal of hate, counter-speech has been proposed as a measure to address this harm. To date, however, it remains unclear…
www.crimrxiv.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:02 PM
People posting hate speech on social media were more likely to recant/apologise if other users posted replies evoking empathy for the victim, compared to replies attacking the person posting or trying to rebut their hate speech with facts.
Interesting study finding that 'out of the blue' career-ending misconduct by previously unproblematic officers (🇬🇧) couldn't reliably be predicted using demographic or career factors (e.g. duty type, transfer frequency), or previous unsubstantiated complaints.
doi.org/10.1177/1098...
doi.org/10.1177/1098...
Fire Without Smoke: Understanding Spontaneous Career Ending Police Misconduct - Timothy I. C. Cubitt, Morven Brown, Matthew Bland, 2026
This study investigates career-ending police misconduct that occurs with little or no prior warning. Using administrative data from a large policing agency in t...
doi.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Interesting study finding that 'out of the blue' career-ending misconduct by previously unproblematic officers (🇬🇧) couldn't reliably be predicted using demographic or career factors (e.g. duty type, transfer frequency), or previous unsubstantiated complaints.
doi.org/10.1177/1098...
doi.org/10.1177/1098...
This study tries to see if large language models can make prison release decisions (spoiler: they can’t).
Maybe I’ve missed something, but I don’t see how this paper got published. LLMs are designed to generate text, not make binary decisions.
…
doi.org/10.1177/0887...
Maybe I’ve missed something, but I don’t see how this paper got published. LLMs are designed to generate text, not make binary decisions.
…
doi.org/10.1177/0887...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
January 13, 2026 at 1:29 PM
This study tries to see if large language models can make prison release decisions (spoiler: they can’t).
Maybe I’ve missed something, but I don’t see how this paper got published. LLMs are designed to generate text, not make binary decisions.
…
doi.org/10.1177/0887...
Maybe I’ve missed something, but I don’t see how this paper got published. LLMs are designed to generate text, not make binary decisions.
…
doi.org/10.1177/0887...
Fascinating new study on what factors influence whether people (🇬🇧) call (or don't call) police to incidents where it's ambiguous whether police would be the best agency to respond.
I'm not going to try to summarise the (complex) results here, but read the article!
doi.org/10.1093/bjc/...
I'm not going to try to summarise the (complex) results here, but read the article!
doi.org/10.1093/bjc/...
Validate User
doi.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Fascinating new study on what factors influence whether people (🇬🇧) call (or don't call) police to incidents where it's ambiguous whether police would be the best agency to respond.
I'm not going to try to summarise the (complex) results here, but read the article!
doi.org/10.1093/bjc/...
I'm not going to try to summarise the (complex) results here, but read the article!
doi.org/10.1093/bjc/...
Reposted by Matt Ashby
Do you explore intersections between digitalization and geography of crime? @asiermoneva.com, Wim Bernasco and I look forward to your contribution to our guest-edited special issue “The Geography of Crime in the Digital Era”. See call for papers (www.sciencedirect.com/journal/jour...). Please share.
January 12, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Do you explore intersections between digitalization and geography of crime? @asiermoneva.com, Wim Bernasco and I look forward to your contribution to our guest-edited special issue “The Geography of Crime in the Digital Era”. See call for papers (www.sciencedirect.com/journal/jour...). Please share.
Reposted by Matt Ashby
After accounting for other factors, suspects (🇺🇸) were *less* likely to be injured during police use of force if taser was used or if the officer was more experienced. Suspects were *more* likely to be injured when officers attempted 'soft-hand' tactics like wrist locks.
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:03 PM
After accounting for other factors, suspects (🇺🇸) were *less* likely to be injured during police use of force if taser was used or if the officer was more experienced. Suspects were *more* likely to be injured when officers attempted 'soft-hand' tactics like wrist locks.
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Reposted by Matt Ashby
I'm sure someone else has suggested this, but it's time for mandatory DOIs in reference lists. This will make it easier to identify hallucinated references
January 9, 2026 at 1:06 PM
I'm sure someone else has suggested this, but it's time for mandatory DOIs in reference lists. This will make it easier to identify hallucinated references
Police officers (🇦🇺) feel body-worn video from responding officers improves the quality of evidence in domestic-abuse cases, but victims tend to be concerned about how the recordings will be used and whether cameras properly capture non-physical abuse.
www.crimrxiv.com/pub/a5qwz2er
www.crimrxiv.com/pub/a5qwz2er
Comparing Police Officers’ and Domestic Violence Victims’ Perspectives on Body-Worn Cameras
Vakhitova, Z., Iliadis, M., Flynn, A., Harris, B., & Tyson, D. (2025). Comparing Police Officers’ and DomesticViolence Victims’ Perspectives on Body-Worn Cameras. Justice Quarterly, 1–35.…
www.crimrxiv.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Police officers (🇦🇺) feel body-worn video from responding officers improves the quality of evidence in domestic-abuse cases, but victims tend to be concerned about how the recordings will be used and whether cameras properly capture non-physical abuse.
www.crimrxiv.com/pub/a5qwz2er
www.crimrxiv.com/pub/a5qwz2er
Useful review of existing evidence on how police can effectively manage missing person cases. Should be a useful starting place if you're working in this area, either as a practitioner or researcher.
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Mapping the evidence on What works for the police to effectively manage missing persons cases: A scoping review - Stavros Chatzisymeonidis, Susan Giles, Sara Waring, Louise Almond, 2025
Background: In most countries, the police are legally responsible for investigating reports of missing persons. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowle...
doi.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Useful review of existing evidence on how police can effectively manage missing person cases. Should be a useful starting place if you're working in this area, either as a practitioner or researcher.
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
doi.org/10.1177/0032...
New review of evidence finds the most-effective police crime prevention tends to be:
a) focused on very specific places (not people or neighbourhoods), and
b) tailored to preventing a *specific* type of crime.
⚠️ Broad-brush crime prevention generally doesn't work.
doi.org/10.1007/s112...
a) focused on very specific places (not people or neighbourhoods), and
b) tailored to preventing a *specific* type of crime.
⚠️ Broad-brush crime prevention generally doesn't work.
doi.org/10.1007/s112...
The evidence-based policing matrix at 14 years - Journal of Experimental Criminology
Objective To update the 2011 results of the Evidence-Based Policing Matrix, a tool for analyzing, visualizing, and translating research on police crime prevention strategies. Methods We added 177…
doi.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:02 PM
New review of evidence finds the most-effective police crime prevention tends to be:
a) focused on very specific places (not people or neighbourhoods), and
b) tailored to preventing a *specific* type of crime.
⚠️ Broad-brush crime prevention generally doesn't work.
doi.org/10.1007/s112...
a) focused on very specific places (not people or neighbourhoods), and
b) tailored to preventing a *specific* type of crime.
⚠️ Broad-brush crime prevention generally doesn't work.
doi.org/10.1007/s112...
AI-generated feedback on police body-worn video recordings (🇺🇸) halved the likelihood of unprofessional behaviour during encounters in one agency, but not in a second. The results were similar whether the feedback was delivered directly or via a supervisor.
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
January 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM
AI-generated feedback on police body-worn video recordings (🇺🇸) halved the likelihood of unprofessional behaviour during encounters in one agency, but not in a second. The results were similar whether the feedback was delivered directly or via a supervisor.
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
A frozen Derwentwater just before sunset today. A very nice way to end the holidays.
January 4, 2026 at 6:09 PM
A frozen Derwentwater just before sunset today. A very nice way to end the holidays.
Reposted by Matt Ashby
Our new journal @evidencebasejnl.bsky.social will officially be launching its inaugural issue in April. Evidence assessments, cutting edge methodology papers, research commentaries .. www.tandfonline.com/journals/reb...
December 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Our new journal @evidencebasejnl.bsky.social will officially be launching its inaugural issue in April. Evidence assessments, cutting edge methodology papers, research commentaries .. www.tandfonline.com/journals/reb...
🙄 the government is again raising penalties (this time for worrying livestock) “as a deterrent”. This will have zero deterrent effect because there’s almost no chance of prosecution if your dog attacks a sheep.
📢 Increasing the likelihood of punishment can deter, increasing severity probably won’t.
📢 Increasing the likelihood of punishment can deter, increasing severity probably won’t.
December 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
🙄 the government is again raising penalties (this time for worrying livestock) “as a deterrent”. This will have zero deterrent effect because there’s almost no chance of prosecution if your dog attacks a sheep.
📢 Increasing the likelihood of punishment can deter, increasing severity probably won’t.
📢 Increasing the likelihood of punishment can deter, increasing severity probably won’t.
A lovely Christmas Day walk in some amazing light.
December 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A lovely Christmas Day walk in some amazing light.
Happy Christmas!
(This picture is actually from January this year, but we can still dream of a white Christmas.)
(This picture is actually from January this year, but we can still dream of a white Christmas.)
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Happy Christmas!
(This picture is actually from January this year, but we can still dream of a white Christmas.)
(This picture is actually from January this year, but we can still dream of a white Christmas.)
Useful review of evidence on what works, what doesn’t and what’s promising in using AI in policing. Although the speed of AI development means many emerging technologies haven’t been properly evaluated yet.
Browse all journals
Browse all journals
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Useful review of evidence on what works, what doesn’t and what’s promising in using AI in policing. Although the speed of AI development means many emerging technologies haven’t been properly evaluated yet.
Companies sell AI-based software to automatically review police body-worn video and flag potential misconduct. This study (🇺🇸) found officers are more likely to accept automated flagging if the system also emails supervisors when it finds good conduct.
Does automated feedback impact the acceptability of AI-generated police body worn camera review? An implementation science natural experiment
The diffusion of innovations in policing has often been hindered by barriers to implementation and officer acceptance, which can derail an innovation regardless of its validity or effectiveness.…
www.crimrxiv.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Companies sell AI-based software to automatically review police body-worn video and flag potential misconduct. This study (🇺🇸) found officers are more likely to accept automated flagging if the system also emails supervisors when it finds good conduct.
Reposted by Matt Ashby
Christmas movie? Yes.
Terrorism movie? No.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Terrorism movie? No.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
December 20, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Christmas movie? Yes.
Terrorism movie? No.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Terrorism movie? No.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
‘Nudge’-based signs encouraging people to lock their bikes at a railway station (🇯🇵) increased how likely people were to do so. This might seem obvious, but some previous research has found signs often aren’t good at changing victim behaviour.
Impact of Antitheft Nudging Signage on Bicycle Owners’ Locking Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Rural Japan - Ai Suzuki, Takahito Shimada, 2025
This study tested the effectiveness of a nudge-based intervention aimed at encouraging cyclists to lock their bicycles, thereby reducing theft risk in nonurban ...
doi.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
‘Nudge’-based signs encouraging people to lock their bikes at a railway station (🇯🇵) increased how likely people were to do so. This might seem obvious, but some previous research has found signs often aren’t good at changing victim behaviour.
Citizens (🇬🇧) greatly overestimate the frequency of bribery in UK businesses: 43% of people think bribery in UK business happens ‘very/fairly often’ but only 3% of businesses were asked for or gave a bribe in the past year.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Citizens (🇬🇧) greatly overestimate the frequency of bribery in UK businesses: 43% of people think bribery in UK business happens ‘very/fairly often’ but only 3% of businesses were asked for or gave a bribe in the past year.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
People (in 30 countries) are more likely to co-operate with police if they think police make fair decisions and treat people with respect. In most countries that's more-important in explaining co-operation than police effectiveness or legal duties to obey.
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
doi.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
People (in 30 countries) are more likely to co-operate with police if they think police make fair decisions and treat people with respect. In most countries that's more-important in explaining co-operation than police effectiveness or legal duties to obey.
doi.org/10.1111/1745...
doi.org/10.1111/1745...