staffordshire police

HomeNet Communications works with Staffordshire Police to tackle crime at major summer festival <printable PDF>

Crime levels at music festivals often make the headlines, but with the adoption of new technology by police forces these are dropping. Following a major music event last weekend at Weston Park, Staffordshire Police today announced the success of an innovative mobile technology initiative linking CCTVs to the Orange network, enabling officers to download images and more effectively identify criminals and known trouble-makers.

HomeNet Communications and Orange Business Solutions were involved in the initiative where images from CCTV were sent securely as still images to mobile devices being carried by officers. Officers were also able to access detailed information directly from the Police National Computer, enabling them to improve productivity. Dozens of requests to the PNC and several images downloaded assisted in a total of 60 arrests during the festival.

The event is one of the best-attended summer music events and attracts thousands of daily visitors as well as campers who stay for the whole weekend. Police have to contend with a population equivalent to that of a small town that is present for just two days, providing a considerable challenge.

Ian De Soyza, Project Manager, Staffordshire Police said: “Unfortunately, large gatherings of people can attract some criminal activity. Although CCTV cameras have been used to monitor the festival for some years, this was the first time they had been linked to mobile devices. It really does save vital time otherwise spent describing somebody over the radio, during which the suspect might have disappeared into the crowd. We believe this is the first time that the police have used a data network to send images in this way.”

"The festival has provided yet another example that future mobile technology solutions are with us right now. To be able to send CCTV images successfully to officers at the point of operation will enable Staffordshire Police to identify people swiftly - and securely - at the moment an image is created, saving vital time in the fight against crime."

Shaun Orpen, marketing director, Orange UK says: “It is great to see how technology that has been around for years can be combined with new technology to deliver real value to the public. Police forces depend on fast, secure and reliable communication, and this initiative demonstrates that mobile technology can deliver this through a robust network.”

Frank Roche, managing director, HomeNet Communications says: “The time has come when the police can benefit from mobile data solutions by having immediate access to video, be it live from CCTV networks or archive material from video data bases."

A range of devices including Orange SPV smartphones, Panasonic Toughbooks and HP 1450s were used by the officers to securely access the data and images across the Orange GPRS network.

HomeNet Communications provided an iServe product that captured the video from the CCTVs and made this available immediately to the police officers equipped with mobile devices. The iServe captures JPEG imagery, which is directly accessible from xhtml browsers on mobile terminals, and also captures MPEG video, which can be streamed to PCs and PDA terminals.

For more than a year, Staffordshire Police has been using ruggedised Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to access the PNC and other systems for routine activities such as checking vehicle registration details. This initiative is a logical progression, enabling the force to overcome the challenge of identifying faces in the large crowds drawn to festivals.

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