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Technology is improving everything in the 21st century, including criminal practices. These days, the police need to deal with physical crime and cybercrime. Fortunately, thanks to advancements in tech, they are quickly becoming equipped to fight back. For example, drug drops are being carried out using drones to eliminate the human risk. However, now, more law enforcement agencies have access to advanced drones of their own. Improving policing technologies involves tracking new areas of crime and using innovative thinking. Whether it’s facial recognition or body cameras, policing tech is on the rise. Below, we’ve gathered together nine technologies being used by law enforcement.
Voice Tech
Inside a police car, there are several pieces of equipment that help in the line of duty. However, using the tech and staying safe on the roads can be difficult. Therefore, voice control is being implemented. The concept is pretty simple and follows the same rules as Google Home, Siri, and Alexa. Typically, officers will be able to focus on the job and ask their tech to run commands including siren control. Further, at the more advanced end, they may be able to make voice notes and transfer that into paperwork.
If your crime-fighting senses are already tingling, you can sort that out by completing a police studies degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. Typically, to complete the course, you need to either be working on the force or retired. Either way, completing this degree will advance your career and bring you closer to exciting tech.
Facial Recognition
Facial recognition is one of the most controversial advancements in policing technology. The issues faced by the introduction of facial recognition were centered around unethical use. However, state governments are coming up with policies to monitor use. At the moment, over in America, Maine has the strongest monitoring systems in place, with facial recognition being practically banned.
Despite this, facial recognition has its merits, with the tech helping police officers to apprehend an alleged rapist within 24 hours. Facial recognition is also having uses in other areas, with Homeland Security implementing the tech at airports. They predict that, by 2023, they will have used the tech on 97% of travelers.
Video Doorbells
In the same way that dashcam popularity surged, more people than ever before are installing video doorbells because they’re affordable. Luckily, as well as keeping more homes secure, they are helping to assist police with inquiries. This doesn’t mean the police can access your camera without permission, but the request for door cam footage is becoming more common. For example, in 2020, there were more than 20,000 policing requests for video doorbell footage.
Robotics
Like something straight out of the Watch Dogs franchise, law enforcement agencies are using robotic cameras to analyze crime scenes. In particular, they are being deployed into areas that are deemed unsafe for officer access. After all, it’s better to lose a robot than a life. As well as cameras, Ford has been working hard to develop self-driving cars, with a patent request already filed.
Artificial Intelligence
There are more machines than ever before collecting data to be analyzed. However, we’ve reached a point where humans aren’t sufficient enough to process the data themselves. Therefore, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning come into play. One area that AI is great for is crime mapping . This is the process of analyzing data to pinpoint high areas of crime. Then, more efficient policing tactics can be deployed to the area. Further, AI is being used to create crime forecasts, which are used to guestimate when and where crimes will take place. Although this doesn’t tell the future, it does let law enforcement agencies prepare themselves for potential threats.
Biometrics
Biometrics isn’t a new field in policing, because fingerprints have been used for over 100 years. However, the area is advancing significantly. For example, some high intelligence agencies can analyze heartbeats, vein patterns, irises, and even palm prints. As well as more biometrics being analyzed, the use of tech out in the field is being revolutionized. For example, there’s a mobile device called INK that can scan suspect fingerprints and find identities in seconds.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging has been used for some time now, especially in police helicopters. However, thanks to innovation making tech smaller, thermal capturing can be achieved on handheld devices. This is a great asset to policing and other agencies. For example, firefighters can use thermal imaging to help detect people through clouds of billowing smoke.
Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
You’ve likely seen this technology in action when you hit the toll roads and they charge you automatically through ALPR. Now, the technology is being used by law enforcement. In particular, ALPR has been combined with AI to effectively provide vehicle information on the go. Thanks to the AI aspect, the ALPR is capable of collecting high-resolution images even in areas of low lighting and adverse weather.
ShotSpotter
When a gunshot goes off, it can take law enforcement a long time to locate the exact scene. Consequently, this leads to perpetrators being able to escape. However, ShotSpotter technology has been developed to help police pinpoint gunshot locations. The tech works on a series of sensors that analyze sounds and patterns in an instant. Then, it relays it to the police, which lets them be on the scene in no time.
Despite how brilliant this tech is, the drawback is how much it costs to install. Typically, it can cost an average of $50,000 per square mile of the city. Therefore, it will be a long time until this is used in more places than not.
Technology is advancing all aspects of the world, and policing is no different. Police cars are being packed with more technology than ever before, with voice control being utilized to keep offers safe. Further, robotic gadgets are allowing hard-to-reach and dangerous crimes scenes accessible. Although mass integration is expensive, it’s safe to say that law enforcement agencies are more equipped than ever before to fight crime.