Following a recent trial, North Wales Police have now launched ‘Operation Snap’ which allows members of the public to share video and photographic evidence of traffic and other offences. An excellent example of public and police collaboration which achieves real operational efficiencies using valid evidence collected by the public.
https://www.north-wales.police.uk/advice-and-support/safer-roads/operation-snap#
Capturing Biometric Data
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a piece of European-wide data protection legislation that becomes fully enforceable in May 2018, following a 2-year grace period. It was approved by the European Parliament in December 2015 and subsequently published in the EU Official Journal in May 2016. It will replace EU data protection directive 95/46/EC and country legislation such as the UKs Data Protection Act.
The act recognises that rapid technological developments and globalisation have transformed both the economy and social life. People are increasingly making personal information available publically and globally and that the free flow of personal data within the EU and globally must be facilitated whilst still ensuring a high level of protection of this data.
When is a breach not a breach?
The ICO (the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office) has ruled that virgin trains did not breach data protection laws when it published CCTV footage of Jeremy Corbyn on board one of it’s trains as it determined that in this case it had a “legitimate interest” to do so. Where it did fall foul of the law is when it failed to pixilate the faces of three passengers who were captured in the footage but whose presence was not relevant to the case. Follow the link above to read the full article by Steve Eckersley, Head of Enforcement at ICO.
With GDPR set to replace national data protection laws in May 2018 this case serves as timely reminder that anyone operating video surveillance systems within Europe, or indeed anyone, wherever they are located, processing data on behalf of European customers, will be obliged to comply with these regulations and ensure that the way they collect, store, process and publish video and related surveillance data (e.g. facial recognition) must adhere to GDPR or else they risk a hefty fine of up to 4% of global turnover or €20 million.
In June 2017 we saw IFSEC 2017 hosted at Excel London as part of a series of shows and expos dealing with security, safety, protection and management. What was particularly interesting was the creation of a new event at IFSEC focusing on Border and Infrastructure protection, a subject that perhaps would traditionally have been covered by the large defence expos. Whilst perhaps still in its infancy this year, you can see the logic in bringing this subject into IFSEC with the surveillance technology and PSIM. Continue reading
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There is a lot of focus these days on how big data and analytics can be used to predict and prevent crime, as well as to aid in solving crimes when they occur. In an article titled “A solvability-based case screening checklist for burglaries in Ireland” published in the latest edition of the European Police Science and Research Bulletin, we see a different approach to the use of data analytics in law enforcement. The article, written by Stephen Shannon and Barry Coonan of An Garda Síochána, discusses their study into how data analysis could be used to identify which cases are most likely to be solved and hence should be investigated. From this study they develop a screening checklist for burglaries based on 49,534 cases reported in 2014, which if it had been applied, may have resulted in a 50% improvement in detection rates.
The study presents some interesting findings on the potential use and benefits of analytics to develop statistical case screening. Whilst it also indirectly validates the current efforts of the security industry in developing ever better CCTV and video analytics solutions, for me it also raises some questions on the broader impact of case screening, such as the possible risk in actually harming the public’s perception of the police, increased insurance premiums for those whose crimes are not likely to be investigated, as well as the risk of simply moving crime elsewhere such as to the most vulnerable in society. Continue reading