Bengaluru police have identified 250,000 individuals with criminal backgrounds using facial recognition technology in three months, part of the Safe City Project aimed at improving urban security. This initiative has led to the arrest of at least ten suspects.
Over 2.5 lakh criminals identified in Bengaluru using AI-powered cameras.
(Representational pic | Getty Images)
Bengaluru: In a significant advancement for urban safety, the Bengaluru police have successfully used facial recognition technology to identify 250,000 individuals with criminal backgrounds in just three months. This initiative is part of the larger Safe City Project, which aims to enhance security across the city. As a result of this technology, authorities have arrested at least ten suspects.
The Facial Recognition System (FRS), a pilot program launched in Bengaluru, relies on a network of advanced AI-powered cameras strategically placed throughout the city. These cameras continuously stream live footage to a police command center, where sophisticated software scans the faces captured and cross-references them with a comprehensive criminal database maintained by the Karnataka police.
Efficiency up to 99%?
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda explained that two distinct facial recognition systems are currently in the testing phase. “We need to ensure the system accurately matches facial features with those in the criminal database,” he said as per a Deccan Herald report. Currently, the FRS operates with an accuracy rate of 75 per cent to 80 per cent, but there are ambitions to elevate this to an impressive 98 per cent to 99 per cent through ongoing machine learning and data refinement.
Bengaluru is equipped with approximately 7,500 AI-powered cameras, with 1,000 linked directly to the FRS. These cameras monitor real-time feeds and alert the command center if they detect individuals with known criminal histories. Notably, the system played a vital role in apprehending a habitual offender connected to 40 crimes.
Technology also beneficial in tracking missing individuals
Beyond tracking criminals, the FRS has also been instrumental in locating missing persons. In one significant case, police were able to track down a tech worker who had altered his appearance and was subsequently located in Noida.
As the Bengaluru police continue to refine this technology, there are plans to expand the network of FRS-linked cameras, especially as the system’s accuracy improves. The FRS has already demonstrated its capabilities in managing large public gatherings, effectively monitoring events such as political rallies and festivals to identify known criminals in real-time.
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