Midlands police improves its covert surveillance
The challenge
A major Midlands police force Technical Support Unit’s covert surveillance operations almost always used a CCTV camera and a video recorder set to time-lapse mode. Once a day, they had to return to the scene to change the tape. Hours of tape had to be reviewed manually to identify what might not even be a single incident. Apart from the waste of manpower involved, continually returning to the scene increased the risk that the operation would be discovered.
Key benefits
- Save time in capturing and analysing video evidence
- Free personnel for other ‘higher value’ activities
- Increase the quality of video analysis
- Improve the effectiveness of covert surveillance operations
- Reduce risk of operations being compromised
When the TSU heard that Scyron could provide a solution to make its covert operations more effective, it was extremely keen to test it on an operation. The solution included an easily installed self-contained unit – including detachable screen, keyboard and mouse – that could be rapidly deployed on-site and connected to multiple CCTV cameras.
At its core is an intelligent video analysis system that automates the process of video intelligence gathering. The TSU found they could quickly define the events they were interested in – the suspect leaving their house, for instance – and only that event would trigger recording – also recording frames both before and after the event.
“Everybody does motion detection, we’re able to define the motion we’re looking for,” says the Head of Unit.
Because of the capacity of the system’s hard disk, the scene of the operation need not be disturbed. All the events of interest for an entire surveillance operation could be stored with no need to return to the site. In addition, its wireless capabilities meant that a member of the TSU could sit in a car some distance from the surveillance site and, using a laptop PC, remotely examine and download any footage of interest.
The TSU was able to remotely set up the system and receive real-time alerts to personnel in the field or headquarters when an event of interest occurred.
The result
For Midlands police, the process of obtaining evidence and intelligence has been made more successful. Important information isn’t missed as the solution automatically records only events of interest. Time is saved and important resource is freed from the time-consuming and mind-numbing process of manually analysing video footage. Surveillance sites are more secure as officers don’t need to return to the site at any time during the operation. Decision-making is improved as everyone involved has the information they need, when and where they need it.
