7 Technologies That Arm Police Force To Fight Crimes

In a bid to weave stronger security cover over citizens, police departments in various cities of the world, have placed their trust in technology and they reap rich results as well. Latest range of critical devices and unique ways have been developed to aid cops. Citing a golden example, exclusive Bluetooth bulletproof vests are seen utilized by policemen in Rio Grande city, which sends alerts to their base or police station if there is any injury or health complication occurs, including their blood type.

Sans doubt, police departments are considering futuristically and explore ways which are dominantly smart way of policing. I have explored some of the smart devices, run through technology, which propel law to be a step ahead of their (in fact our) opponents.

1. Biometrics Captures Every Little Personal Attribute:

An array of technologies is packed together under the umbrella of biometrics which are largely based upon one’s physical type. However, experts believe law enforcement has been making use of finger prints that is just an instance of biometrics for over a century now to crack crime mysteries and to get over the culprits and as of today, this bubble is perpetually getting augmented far and wide and more refined as facial and iris scans recognition have made their way into this category.

Now, to extend a better and efficacious cover of criminal probe, investigative agencies need to filter each and every detail minutely and police authorities across the world have incorporated this facial recognition technology to nab criminals and to deter any unpleasant events on streets.   Clearly, these days, facial recognition is immensely trusted upon for verification and image pixels are broken and calculated, easy and irrefutable matching takes place with actual profile present in criminal or citizen database (pssss….AI and Deep Learning).

Going as per reports by Centre on Privacy and Technology, cops in many US cities maintain facial recognition data of more than 117 million citizens. Nevertheless, efforts are on to chisel technology further to verify identity during live video recording, especially in crowded areas to meet threats or to hunt down fugitive following credible intelligence input.

As per Iris scans, a couple of agencies like Arizona Sheriff department and Yavapal County have picked up such measures during their booking procedures to strengthen the hand of law on their land. Typical gait analysis are typical to a person and such type of additional biometric pointers have proved to be of immense use to police departments in various countries which embrace technology. As a matter of factly, Olfactory analysis puts out over 85% of accuracy during investigative analysis.

In report released by PoliceOne.com, re-searching efforts are further put into Iris scanners, to recognize anyone the moment they cast a glance through the rear view when police interrupts them on highways or roads.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Big Data:

None can deny the worth and class of AI technology which has made its pleasant effects felt in this arena as well.

Programming stalwarts at Intel have been shedding sweat in manipulating AI to help investigative agencies in locating missing and exploited kids when large chunk of data containing 10 million tips, gathered by latter, is analyzed in matter of minutes. As a wonderful tactic, data-fragments such as phone numbers and IP addresses, are utilized to uncover the location of target person, following which, appropriate state department and police is informed about the subject.

Moreover, in sprawling social media arena as well, AI technology is invoked to mine social media posts by harping upon specific keywords when any input is received about a possibility social unrest likely to occur.

Now, by ascertaining certain factors like crime statistics, locations of bars and night clubs and other risk factors, Chicago police manages a software which specifies hot beds of crimes and thus, pays more attention to these, this is what Government Computer News reports. Likewise, St Louise police department also functions according to similar software which helps them crack widespread criminal network and to nab high class drug or human trafficking kingpins, rather than running after small drug peddlers or petty individuals.

Law enforcement has been reinforced by such premier technologies which help them in making proper use of heat map data, by the virtue of which data collected from multiple sources can easily be aggregated and analyzed and the resulting information is pivotal in determining planning and appropriate resource allocation. In same vein, such are helpful in perfect prediction of crimes, their nature and the possible time frame among certain other factors with assured reliance.

Reckoning the efficacy of such crime algorithm implementation, by increasing patrolling in hot areas, crime rate was brought down drastically by around 10% than what authorities had expected (please expect more from Police). Such is a supreme algorithm to predict crimes which is energized by heat mapping and crime analysis and with which, LAPD is expected to save a mammoth $9 million dollars per annum.

3. Policing Gets A Fillip With Video Analytics:

Normal and plane video recording, as was done largely for decades until a few years back, is obsolete now and sheer video technology is unleashed that analyses every key detail one looks for, (yes, even tattoos) during its video footage analysis by encapsulating the identities of everyone into the frame, in a matter of moments including audio.  Various programming and analyzing technologies (most notably AI) have been enmeshed for such a purpose to outline individuals, their actions, stuff that they carry within their backpacks and to predict what they are upto on the basis of their background.

While trying to resolve any case, even private footage  recorded by personal CCTVs can also be analyzed through this technology.

 

4. Technology To Capture License Plate:

With premium license plate readers, police personnel are empowered to hunt down the target persons by analyzing video footage alongside task automation. Exclusively, when there is a case of stolen cars or to spot license plates that passed valid date and to trace fugitives or wanted criminals, this software application has prevailed immensely so far.

When put up on busy highways or when fixed with poles, such readers can track thousands of cars every single day, while some systems are powerful enough to record 1800 license plates per minute on vehicles which touch a record speed of 150 miles per hour. Further, police can supplement their efforts with the help of locally maintained license plates databases when such are scanned seeking real-time results and it is worth mentioning here, that each database is broad enough to enlist around 4.35 billion entries based on sighting.

As a relief and result of license plate readers, an enormous number of stolen vehicles have been traced and recovered, this is what is glorified by Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. 

5. Drones:

In an attempt to expand vigil and to get to hear the local voices which may smack of sinister intent, such are UAVs, that are widely used by law enforcement. With police departments, such is regarded as the most crucial novelty which is extremely  budget friendly too but which has enabled police proficiency to new levels.

Further, even optical cameras and thermal imaging systems can be hitched with drones, for effective air-bound patrolling. Besides, search and rescue missions, controlling, overwhelming crowd, tracing enemy or terrorist positions etc., have been some key uses of drones.

But there is needed a proper certification from respective local bodies before pressing drones into service and there is exclusive training too, to operate drones and in case of US, the Federal Aviation Administration takes care of such formalities.

6. Internet Of Things:

The technology (such as erstwhile internet) has inherently been pretty cost effective and with subsequent efforts in tech field, it is now possible to install devices at various places across city with internet connectivity especially for video surveillance. Thanks to GPS technology, exact location can easily be traced and target individual, item or any vehicle can be monitored with ease and proficiency. We have GPS darts or bullets, which ensure instant tracking and gathering every minute info about those inside the vehicle, while they may remain unaware that eyes of law is desperately watching them.

This is exclusively useful for hard core criminals, informers and any high profile personalities who can be watched with GPS led devices.

7. Sound Waves:

To control massive gathering as well as for seamless communication, soundwave technology or sonic has been worked upon. Initially, such are designed for defence purposes and to check criminal advances and are regarded as long range acoustic device or LRAD.

A command and control can be managed where commanders can instruct and can even issue warning to a large gathering while message is transmitted using an imaginary strip of tight sound and even in a crowded gathering message can be heard loud and clear.

The devices can be attached onto cars, vans, choppers and bikes and while dealing with demonstrations recently in various US cities such as Dallas, Houston, New York etc, police made use of this medium to talk with demonstrators.

 

 

 

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Biometrics, Bluetooth vests, Fingerprint technology, Fingerprints, Intel, IoT, License Plate Readers, police technology, Police technology Investigation, Sound waves