Integrated Systems

Facewatch turns to forecourts

by Mark Rowe

A crime-reporting platform is turning its attention to fuel thieves.

Theft from petrol forecourts, includes so-called ‘drive off’ offenders increasingly operating in organised gangs, and motorists who claim to have no means of payment, says Facewatch. It’s working with Forecourt Eye, planning to roll out its software to petrol retailers. The platform includes a secure cloud-hosted automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system linked to CCTV cameras to identify suspect vehicles and send out automatic alerts to warn retailers of potential fuel theft threats.

Facewatch founder and chairman Simon Gordon said: “Facewatch’s partnership with Forecourt Eye heralds a new era in the crack down on fuel theft. Using our technology, businesses can upload CCTV footage, images and information about suspects to compile digital evidence files, including witness statements, which can be instantly reported to police.

“Subscribers can also share pictures and number plates with local forecourts and use our secure Cloud based Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to receive alerts when known offenders drive into their forecourt. The next step in our development is to combine this with facial recognition software, which is being tested and will be ready to deploy within weeks.”

And Nick Fisher, CEO of Forecourt Eye, said: “Our system allows the forecourt industry to take steps to tackle a fast-growing menace that is costing retailers millions of pounds every year. The sophisticated online tools we provide also offer enhanced protection for forecourt staff, providing an instant and direct link to police that improves conviction rates and acts as a very visible and effective deterrent.

“We believe this is one of the most significant advances in crime-prevention in the petrol retailing industry in decades.”

Facewatch enables organisations to report crimes online and submit moving and still CCTV images as evidence to the police, as well as share this imagery between businesses in related subscribed groups (in compliance with Data Protection guidelines) to reduce crime.

Since Facewatch was founded in 2010, it has worked with police and has achieved “Secured by Design” status, the official UK police initiative restricted to companies or products that have been tested.

Facewatch enables crimes to be reported to any police force in England and Wales and for the user to receive an official police crime reference back within 72 hours.

Facewatch’s facial recognition has been launched with Allevate’s cloud-hosted Face-Searcher service, initially in Brazil. After testing, Facewatch is now gearing up for its UK launch.

The new feature will enable Facewatch subscribers to instantly and automatically share their images of ‘subjects of interest’ to watch lists, thereby allowing real-time alerting if someone entering a premises is a known offender.

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