During the last period the specially equipped EL.A. vehicle. He participated in targeted high-disruption operations, such as in the Tribe, where within a few hours dozens of controls, imports and arrests were carried out. These companies confirm that technology is beginning to change the way police work takes place in our country.
Despite the impressive titles released at times, so-called «Smart patrol car» is not an autonomous artificial intelligence vehicle.
It is essentially a conventional service vehicle of the Greek Police, which has been converted into a mobile operational center. Inside it features tablets, laptops and smart devices that communicate continuously with EL.A. information systems and international databases.
This way police officers can, within a few seconds, know if:
- a vehicle has been declared stolen,
- is uninsured,
- It's on fake plates,
- sought for criminal actions;
- or if his driver is a person of police interest.
Essentially, the time that formerly required telephone communications with the Operations Center, today has been limited to a few seconds.
The cameras that «See» everything
The most important tool of the vehicle is the ANPR automatic registration system. As the patrol car moves, cameras constantly record the signs of passing vehicles. The software makes a direct intersection with available databases and alerts the crew when an interesting vehicle is detected.
The process is fully automated and allows police officers to focus only on suspicious incidents instead of carrying out random checks.
It even connects to drones
In special operations, the smart patrol car operates as a mobile command center. The image of drones with thermal cameras is broadcast directly on the vehicle screens, allowing police officers to have a full picture of the area even at night or in difficult places. So the coordination of groups is done in real time, with much more efficiency than traditional methods.
The big program never fully activated
But behind this picture is a less known story. The current vehicle exploits only part of the capabilities designed for the program «Smart Police» (Smart Policy). This project, a budget of around 4m euros, provided for the provision of around 1,000 last generation smart portable devices for police officers, largely funded by European resources.
These devices could:
- facial recognition,
- taking and identifying fingerprints,
- scanning of travel documents,
- identity control,
- passport reading,
- real-time data intersection,
- Identification of traffic signs.
The «brake» by the Data Protection Authority
However, much of these possibilities was never used. The cause was the serious reservations expressed about the protection of personal data and especially about the use of biometric recognition technologies. The recognition of persons and the exploitation of biometric data remained essentially inactive, as a clear and specific legislative framework is required to determine precisely when and with which guarantees such technologies can be used.
The next day of digital policing
Today EL.A. progresses gradually into a new model of digital policing.
The smart patrol car no longer operates as an individual vehicle but as part of a wider network comprising:
- artificial intelligence cameras on key roads;
- surveillance drones,
- mobile business centres;
- online interface with information systems,
- automated identification of signs,
- Direct data crossing.
The aim is for controls to become more targeted, faster and more effective, with a reduction in bureaucracy and better use of staff.
The big bet
The next step is no longer the purchase of more equipment. The real aim is to have a modern and clear institutional framework that will allow the use of new technologies, without affecting the fundamental rights of citizens.
Technology already exists. An important part of it operates daily on the Greek streets. Another, however, remains «locked», awaiting the necessary legislative and regulatory decisions to determine whether and when to pass through the warehouse to operational action.
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