Visual analysis software supplier, i2, has launched a solution to help police forces make the most of their ANPR data, at the National ANPR conference in Rugby, Warwickshire.
The firm says that ANPR data has traditionally been used in a reactive role, dealing with ‘hit’ vehicles when they travel through mobile and static cameras located all over the country. i2 says it has created a way of combining the data collected by the ANPR cameras with information and intelligence gathered by other sources and held on different databases.
Currently being trialled by West Mercia Constabulary, this combined data source has the potential, it is claimed, to add value to post–incident investigations and proactive intelligence analysis in additional areas, including counter-terrorism, cross-border investigations and serious and organised crime.
ANPR data can be analysed with data from a number of other sources, such as crime, incident and intelligence databases, enabling analysts not only to build a much fuller picture of the offence they are investigating, but also to develop a lifestyle profile of those who are using the roads committing crime.
Mark Williams, regional product marketing manager, said: "Using i2 Analyst’s Workstation, ANPR data can be integrated with information from disparate databases and utilised to plot locations of offences or establish patterns and trends, resulting in the identification of criminal lifestyles and the tracking of movements, particularly of known offenders.
"As more and more criminals are crossing borders to commit offences, the value of ANPR data is becoming increasingly recognised and utilised to deny criminals the use of the UK’s roads to commit crime."
Triangulating ANPR data with telecommunications and financial intelligence can assist officers in preventing and disrupting criminal activity, as well as detecting offences that have already been committed, the software firm adds.
Mark added: "i2’s ANPR solution is particularly useful to police forces when they are looking at the ways in which criminal activity is carried out.
"Supporting the processes and techniques as defined by the National Intelligence Model, incorporating ANPR data into i2 Analyst’s Workstation allows police forces to create target profiles, criminal business profiles and problem profiles, as well as crime pattern and network analysis."
