Predictive policing has been used as a governance tool in China for a decade but as a
governance object it has only recently entered the research field. There are three major risks
associated with predictive policing: prediction accuracy service normativity and social
adaptability. Given the inherent uncertainties of predictions and the limitations of
interventions the aspiration to stopping crime before it begins remains a challenge. The
future aim should be to elevate prediction accuracy and within ethically and legally
acceptable limits convert predictive insights into tangible governance practices.
