Keynote: intelligent video as a force multiplier for crime detection and prevention

Four of the main crime detection and prevention functions of law enforcement personnel are: physical deterrence; monitoring public areas; responding to crimes; and forensic analysis to "pick up the pieces". An acknowledged challenge is the lack of manpower to be effective at these functions. Law enforcement agencies everywhere are embracing new technologies as "force multipliers" to make their existing labour force more effective. One valuable force multiplier technology is intelligent video surveillance (IVS)-computer software that can detect threats, crimes, or events of interest in surveillance video and automatically generate and distribute alerts for those events. This technology exists today and is experiencing commercial success in law enforcement applications world-wide. However, to fully exploit the benefits of such technologies, four specific factors need to converge: more specific IVS applications must be created to solve law enforcement challenges; IVS technology must enable smart devices that can be rapidly and ubiquitously deployed; these devices must proliferate based on applications and infrastructure outside of law enforcement; and law enforcement agencies must adopt new processes and policies to exploit them. This paper discusses these factors and provides examples of successful law enforcement agencies that have adopted and adapted IVS technology.