Thread

1. benbristow · 1790684193 · focus · HN ↗

   I've had an idea in the back of my head but I'm no businessman so have this one for free.

   Build an AI model, train it from the catalogues of JD Sports and Sports Direct (and other brands like Stone Island etc.) and how to detect balaclavas, illegal electric bikes and e-scooters. Have it link to cameras and do a percentage chance using machine learning on chance of crime. Also increase the percentage if a 'wheely' is done (riding only on back wheel).

   Would minority report the majority of crime in this country in one fell swoop.

   Could call it ScroteScanner.

   Some would call it discrimination but the majority of ASB I see around my area are people dressed/using those exact things.

   If they start to catch-on (unlikely) then worse case we have a fancier looking society with gangsters in suits again.

   1. Waterluvian · 1790684826 · focus · HN ↗

      They should just round up and imprison all the people who walk in my neighbourhood.

      Some would call it discrimination but the majority of people who commit crimes in my area are people who can walk. I rarely see the wheelchair crowd pulling off B&Es.

      Oh, or people who wear clothes. Criminals seem to like wearing clothes. Point proven: you never see nudists shoplifting Old Navy.

      1. benbristow · 1790685059 · focus · HN ↗

         People on illegal escooters or illegal electric bikes are already committing crimes, there's rarely a decent reason to be wearing a balaclava in the city.

         As I said, machine learning to take all these pointers into perspective.

         1. roryirvine · 1790691647 · focus · HN ↗

            It'd be much more effective to close the gaping loopholes which allow importing, selling, and servicing unrestricted and unsafe ebikes and escooters (currently you just need to have some small print informing riders that they should be insured, licensed, and only use them on roads where mopeds are permitted - even though no-one actually does that).

            Ideally, you'd go back in time and do this before the problem really took off - but failing that, you could introduce scrappage/swap schemes to incentivise taking existing bikes out of circulation.

            To tighten things up further, you might think about making safety certification mandatory, and force delivery platforms to take responsibility for ensuring that their riders are using only certified bikes.

            Deal with the source of the problem rather than wasting police time on chasing down every teenage cyclist or bringing back sus laws.

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