Axis
Urban Security
Problems addressed
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Robberies

Effectiveness

No Effect

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No Effect

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Description

Vehicle License Plate Recognition (VLPR) identifies the exact vehicle license plate number based on frame sequencing (video) or still images. VLPR systems must operate in real time or with the shortest possible processing time. The VLPR structure generally comprises four processing steps: image acquisition, plate detection, segmentation, and character recognition.
In addition to its application in the control and enforcement of traffic violations, VLPR is gaining traction as a methodology applied to the field of public safety. When used as a crime deterrence technology, these devices enable law enforcement officers to detect vehicles that have been reported stolen (or missing) and/or have been involved in criminal activity, and provide support from vehicle tracking to the potential pursuit of suspected criminals.

Country of application
  • United States
Evidence

An analytical review on existing VLPR techniques evaluated its application to a set of 16,800 images and found a vehicle identification success rate of 90%. However, it was also identified that there are factors that need to be observed in order for VLPR to perform correctly in different lighting contexts, in varying environmental situations, with respect to plates with different styles, and under different conditions [1].
An experimental evaluation found no statistically significant differences between the hot spots contemplated in the treatment group (where VLPR technologies were applied) and the hot spots in the control group in terms of crime incidence (car theft, car parts theft, and automobile-related crimes), during a 30-day follow-up period [2].
A third study (Randomized Controlled Trial) also found no statistically significant difference between treatment group patrols (where the technology was applied) and comparison group patrols (no application of the technology) in terms of their impact on the volume of emergency calls related to vehicle thefts during a two-week follow-up period [3].

Bibliography

[1] Arafat, M. Y., Khairuddin, A. S. M., Khairuddin, U., Paramesran, R. (2019). Systematic review on vehicular licence plate recognition framework in intelligent transport systems. IET Intelligent Transport Systems, 13(5), 745–755. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-its.2018.5151

[2] Lum, C., Hibdon, J. Cave, B., Koper, C. S., Merola, L. (2011). License Plate Reader (LPR) Police Patrols in Crime Hot Spots: An Experimental Evaluation in Two Adjacent Jurisdictions. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 7(4), 321–45. https://voiceofsandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Lum-et-al-2.pdf

[3] Taylor, B., Koper, C. S., Woods, D. (2012). Combating Vehicle Theft in Arizona: A Randomized Experiment With License Plate Recognition Technology. Criminal Justice Review, 37(1), 24–50. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0734016811425858

Information Source

Evaluated cases

License Plate Recognition Technology (as a Crime Deterrent)

Axis: Urban Security
Type: License Plate Scanner
Effectiveness:

No Effect

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.

.

.

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No Effect
Problem type:
Robberies, Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Country:
United States
Open

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