What may not be visible to the naked eye is visible to infrared cameras, and with this comes many benefits for Law Enforcement. But, what are the exact benefits they can bring?
From crime prevention and investigations to public safety, crowd management, and traffic control, Law Enforcement covers various areas that require high security coverage.
Within this industry, you can’t just press pause on public safety or protection, it requires 24/7/365 coverage, day-to-night.
How Mobile Surveillance Benefits Law Enforcement
A popular method with Law Enforcement, mobile surveillance works as a flexible, adaptable security solution that can be used as part of various strategies to tackle crime and manage risks.
There are several positive impacts of Law Enforcement utilizing mobile video surveillance and these are as follows:
- Full autonomy to work in covert or remote locations
- Flexibility of use, allowing them be integrated into various security measures
- High-quality video evidence for any future prosecutions
- Technology advancements that offer more customizable options to cameras to support specific targeting
- Live video monitoring to provide efficient, prompt crime prevention
- Cost-effective security solution to suit Government-funded budgets
Although mobile surveillance is universally considered to be the best all-rounder approach to security across multiple industries, custom camera features can help enhance the security provided even further.
For Law Enforcement in particular, the use of infrared cameras can help to completely transform your response to crime, public safety, and environmental protection, boosting the number of positive outcomes from this.
What Are Infrared Cameras?
Infrared cameras, also known as thermal imaging or IR cameras help to detect and record infrared radiation emitted by objects, normally of a person.
These can be used in dark and low-light conditions, converting heat radiations into electronic signals as a way of tracking and monitoring the area in which the cameras are covering.
The signal transmitted will then be processed into a thermal image with warmer areas appearing in yellow, orange, and red, whilst cooler areas will appear blue, purple, and green.
Although surveillance cameras generally have a good view on threats, suspicious behavior, and intruders, the use of infrared imagery enhances the security one step further, creating even smaller opportunities for any illegal activity to take place.
7 Ways Infrared Cameras Benefit Law Enforcement
Due to the severity of challenges in which Law Enforcement face, the need for high-quality security is greater than ever before.
Infrared cameras can boost this service and support Law Enforcement in 7 ways:
High-Quality Security Nighttime Coverage
Often considered to be the biggest benefit of infrared cameras is the high-quality security coverage that can be provided during the night.
Mobile surveillance units should be able to support after-hours, however, there is still the risk that threats could be missed or a lack of evidence is captured due to poor quality imagery.
Infrared cameras can see in complete darkness by detecting any heat emitted from bodies, allowing for easier tracking and monitoring for Law Enforcement or personnel employed to do this.
Some criminals will study areas, stores, and buildings to plan their approach for committing crime to minimize the risks of capture and revealing their identity to any cameras.
Using infrared technology heavily reduces this capability and therefore helps to reduce crime and prevent the escalation of serious incidents.
Assists With Vehicle Pursuits
When mounted onto Law Enforcement helicopters or vehicles, infrared cameras can track other vehicles on the road during high-speed pursuits, whether it be day or night and in various types of weather conditions.
In these instances, drivers will attempt to escape Law Enforcement using smart maneuvers and blending into traffic, but infrared cameras can be used to provide precise tracking to help capture any suspects involved.
Heat Detection Capabilities
Infrared cameras use thermal imagery to track bodies and movement which is extremely beneficial on occasions where criminals are trying to remain concealed behind walls or other blindspots.
For some cameras where infrared technology is not involved, they may be unable to recognize any individuals hiding behind a bush, under a vehicle, or simply in the darkness.
With infrared cameras, there’s no hiding. Due to the thermal imagery provided through IR, body heat can be detected through walls and other materials used by criminals to conceal their identity.
This allows you to respond promptly to an incident in that moment to prevent and capture those involved, rather than having to work retrospectively which rarely provides a successful outcome.
Supports Search and Rescue Operations
In serious, highly-pressurized search and rescue operations, Law Enforcement require quick responses in order to find the missing person(s).
Infrared cameras can boost search efforts for you in these types of situations as they can successfully track body heat even in remote environments such as dense forests.
Searching for missing persons is an extremely complex task, but by attaching cameras with this enhanced view, it should make the task simpler and more effective for any officers on the case.
Work Throughout Adverse Weather Conditions
Unlike other camera options that detect movement based on visible light, infrared cameras detect infrared radiation emitted by objects, allowing them to essentially ‘see’ through obstructions including adverse weather.
Fog, heavy rain, and snow can all make visibility difficult for the human eye, even for some mobile surveillance cameras.
However for Law Enforcement, work doesn’t simply stop when adverse weather conditions hit, in fact it will likely increase.
Hence why the use of infrared cameras can help to transform the responsiveness and effectiveness for areas such as public safety and traffic management where weather changes can have significant impact.
Provides Complete Perimeter Protection
For large buildings, vast Government land, and critical infrastructure, security can be nearly impossible for Law Enforcement to manage due to the sheer coverage required.
Infrared cameras can be used to monitor perimeters of vast spaces and buildings effectively through their unique detection capabilities.
All of our Surveillance Trailers use IR PTZ cameras which enhance your security to its fullest capabilities, specifically large spaces to ensure Law Enforcement officers are able to focus on more pressing crime issues.
Aids Evidence Gathering
Not all incidents can be captured in the act by Law Enforcement and in these situations there is a heavy reliance on having the evidence to be able to follow-up, find the suspects, and prosecute if necessary.
Although all mobile surveillance will have a method of recording and storing footage, this does not guarantee it will be of high-quality and usable by Law Enforcement.
Infrared camera technology helps to prevent this from occurring, ensuring high-quality footage is recorded and kept to be used as evidence late down the line.
WCCTV’s Customizable Camera Solutions For Law Enforcement
At WCCTV, we pride ourselves in ensuring best-in-class security solutions across multi-industries including Law Enforcement.
All of our products use IR PTZ cameras which offer zoom-in capabilities and 360-degree view which ensures clear day-to-night coverage across the full perimeter of the secured zone.
Providing complete power autonomy, there is no input required from you for power source or internet, allowing them to work fully independently.
Offering covert and overt strategies for issues such as illegal dumping, as well as covering business, parking lot, and major event monitoring, our Surveillance Trailers support the various needs you have within Law Enforcement.
The use of our surveillance can decrease crime rates by 62%, with additional features and software to help cater the security received to your specific needs.
Speak to one of our experts today to see how we can support you and your State’s Law Enforcement with our product offerings!
