Delhi police's template to nab criminals

Time of India

7 days ago

New Delhi: Imagine this: suspects involved in a string of heists are fleeing a crime scene. But, as they drive away in their getaway car with a fake number plate, they are digitally captured at every intersection, their every move tracked and recorded. Police simply enter the vehicle's number plate into the system, revealing its entire journey.
With a few clicks, cops then reconstruct the escape route, pinpointing their location at each checkpoint. The suspects are then effortlessly tracked from the crime scene in north Delhi, for example, to their hideout in south Delhi, and caught within hours.
Thanks to a new system being implemented, this is set to be a reality in the near future.
Delhi Police
will soon receive a significant technological upgrade with the integration of
automatic number plate recognition
(ANPR) system with their
e-Beat Book application
's picket checking and e-vahan search modules. The integrated system will seamlessly connect CCTV cameras and databases, making it impossible for the suspects to escape, according to sources.
'This integration will enable officers to scan licence plates in real time, allowing them to quickly identify stolen vehicles, track fleeing suspects and crack down on crime,' a senior cop said.
For instance, if a police officer receives a message about a stolen vehicle, he or she can zero in on its licence plate using the integrated system and instantly receive an alert once it is spotted at any intersection. Vice-versa, the system can also scan the plates of a vehicle at any intersection using the CCTV camera installed at the spot and check if it matches the stolen vehicle database, an officer explained.
According to senior police officers, by leveraging this technology, policemen will be able to respond more quickly and effectively to emerging situations, keeping the city safer for citizens. The integration of ANPR with the e-Beat Book application will also enable officers to access vehicle details, verify ownership and track stolen vehicles more efficiently.
Currently, law enforcement agencies rely on manual methods to track suspects, scanning footage from CCTV cameras at every intersection to identify specific vehicles or individuals. This labour-intensive process involves pouring over hundreds of hours of footage, often resulting in a time-consuming and resource-draining task.
The manual approach not only wastes valuable time, but also diverts resources away from more critical tasks, such as patrolling the streets and responding to emergencies. Investigators and analysts spend countless hours reviewing footage, trying to spot the suspect or vehicle, which can lead to fatigue and decreased accuracy.
This manual process can also lead to delayed responses, allowing suspects to potentially escape or destroy evidence.
'The limitations of manual surveillance footage analysis highlight the need for more efficient and automated solutions, such as the integrated
ANPR system
, which can quickly and accurately track vehicles and suspects, freeing up resources for more effective policing,' a senior cop said.
Launched in Aug 2020, the e-Beat Book app has equipped beat officers with real-time access to criminal databases, facial recognition tools, and crime analytics directly through handheld devices. It also eliminates the need for cops to return to the station for record checks.