Genetec plugin boosts vehicle investigation speed & insight

Genetec has announced the release of its AutoVu ALPR Analysis Reports plugin, designed to enhance forensic search capabilities within the Genetec Security Center system.

The new plugin focuses on assisting law enforcement officers and investigators by facilitating the identification of vehicles based on behavioural patterns, including speed of travel and associations with other vehicles. The aim is to replace the time-consuming process of manual data sorting with automated, targeted analysis, which may save investigative resources.

Steve Hins, Product Group Manager, ALPR at Genetec, explained the practical benefits of the new tool.

"This plugin gives investigators what they need to close cases faster," said Hins. "With just a few clicks, they can spot patterns and behaviors in vehicle data that would otherwise take hours or days to uncover manually."

The AutoVu ALPR Analysis Reports plugin introduces two distinct features to support investigations. The first, named Cohort Analysis, enables investigators to identify vehicles that regularly travel alongside another vehicle with a known registration. This tool is intended to reveal links that may suggest coordination between suspects, accomplices, or involvement in organised criminal activity.

Officers using the Cohort Analysis can input a known plate, select relevant automatic number plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, and specify the frequency with which vehicles appear together, such as within a few seconds or across multiple locations. The system can then quickly highlight possible cohort vehicles.

One intended use case is in incidents such as organised retail theft. If a suspect vehicle has been linked to multiple events, the analysis could uncover if another vehicle—which might serve as a getaway car—is frequently present at similar times or locations, enabling investigators to refine their suspect list more efficiently.

The second key feature, Time and Speed Analysis, is designed to pinpoint vehicles exhibiting abnormal behaviour, such as high speeds associated with fleeing a crime scene.

This function allows the selection of ALPR cameras covering a certain area and the definition of a time window of interest.

The plugin will then generate a report detailing all vehicles passing through both cameras within the specified window, including estimates of their speeds. Investigators may use this to detect irregularities, such as a vehicle exceeding normal speed limits at a particular moment, without the need to review all number plate captures manually.

This functionality is applicable in investigations like hit-and-run incidents. It allows authorities to determine which vehicles travelled rapidly through the area immediately after an event, potentially narrowing down the list of possible suspects quickly.

The AutoVu ALPR Analysis Reports plugin is now offered as a paid add-on for Genetec's Security Center, available through the company's global network of accredited channel partners.

The plugin's release is part of Genetec's broader aim to provide tools that offer actionable insights while potentially increasing efficiency in vehicle-related investigations.