Chicago police want to predict crime

CHICAGO, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis says a new crime-forecasting unit could help prevent some potential crimes.

Weis is consolidating the department's several intelligence-gathering units in his direct command to speed the flow of information, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Weis has moved several intelligence units into his office from the Bureau of Investigative Services, creating a "fusion center" to provide twice-a-day intelligence reports on crime hot spots.

Brett Goldstein, director of the police Predictive Analytics Group, said the change would let his office send out intelligence reports more quickly.

"We're running against a clock," Goldstein said.

The Predictive Analytics Group sorts through crime statistics and demographic data to identify possible problems, Goldstein said.