Largest non-metropolitan police force in England and Wales partnered with Genetec, Hanwha Vision, and CDS Systems to update and centralise monitoring
Thames Valley Police serves some 2.4m people across an area of some 3,570 km2 (2,218 square miles) across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. CCTV in public spaces across this area has been key to detecting and deterring crime. However, these vital systems faced serious challenges, including unmaintained and outdated tech, and local authorities’ limited budgets.
Photo by Lianhao Qu / Unsplash
The Thames Valley CCTV partnership was formed by Thames Valley Police and tech companies Genetec, CDS Systems and Hanwha Vision to find a means to streamline CCTV operations across the region, ensure reliable and high-quality monitoring while also cutting costs.
They did this my bringing all CCTV systems and control rooms across the region into a single platform using Genetec™ Security Center. Several control rooms, such as Windsor and Maidenhead, already employed this platform, which allowed a ‘phased unification’, with individual councils and systems joining up bit by bit.
The hybrid-cloud architecture and Federation-as-a-Service features of the platform means each location has been able to choose the best mix of cloud and on-premises infrastructure for itself. The platform also offers speedy access to video footage, enhanced collaboration such as in sharing live and recorded video with officers in the field, and access to a range of data, tools and workflows.
Integration with AI-powered Hanwha Vision cameras has improved video quality and evidence review. The platform now handles hundreds of incidents every month, with faster responses enabled via better access to databases across the region. That pooling of resources has also cut costs.
Genetec has published a full case study on the Thames Valley CCTV partnership.
Jason Owen, CCTV Operations Manager at Thames Valley Police, says: ‘The CCTV Command Suite enabled by CDS, Genetec, and Hanwha Vision has improved our workflows beyond recognition, enabling staff to quickly review and package evidence for frontline officers or more complex investigations.
‘We’re proud of what we’ve achieved to date but have no intention of resting on our laurels. The foundations we’ve established will ensure continued high-quality, consistent, and sustainable CCTV provision for our communities.’
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