Genetec’s new product the AutoVu ANPR Analysis Report plugin is an investigation tool that expands automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)-based forensic search capabilities within Genetec security centre.

The new Auto plugin created by Genetec allows law enforcement officers and investigators to track suspects vehicle behaviour patterns – specifically tracking driving speed and travel cohorts.

By eliminating manual data sorting and enabling targeted, efficient analysis, the tool created by Genetec is supposedly able to save investigators critical time.

“Close cases faster”

Steve Hins, Product Group Manager ANPR, Genetec Inc. said: “This plugin gives investigators what they need to close cases faster,”

“With just a few clicks, they can spot patterns and behaviours in vehicle data that would otherwise take hours or days to uncover manually,” finalised Hins.

The AutoVu ANPR Analysis Reports plugin has said that it offers two key functionalities:

1. With the cohort analysis feature, investigators can now identify vehicles that consistently travel with another vehicle of a known licence plate – revealing patterns that may point to coordination, accomplices or organised criminal activity
2. Instead of manually reviewing read reports, officers can now input a known plate, select relevant ANPR cameras and define how often vehicles appear together (e.g., within a few seconds, across multiple cameras)

The system then identifies potential vehicle cohorts instantly.

In cases like organised retail theft, Genetec articulated that its AutoVu plugin is especially valuable: A known suspect vehicle might be linked to multiple incidents and cohort analysis can reveal if another vehicle, such as a getaway car, is consistently nearby, helping investigators quickly narrow down its pool of suspects.

Time and speed analysis

The time and speed analysis feature enables investigators to quickly identify vehicles exhibiting outlier behaviour, such as those fleeing a crime scene, by comparing the estimated speed of vehicles traveling between two ANPR cameras.

Officers simply select cameras located within a zone of interest and define a time frame.

The system then generates a report listing all vehicles that passed both cameras, along with its estimated speeds.

This enables investigators to immediately spot anomalies – such as a vehicle traveling 60 mph in an area where most were going 30 – without sifting through thousands of licence plate reads.

In incidents like a hit-and-run, the AutoVu plugin is said to help pinpoint suspects in seconds by revealing which vehicles sped through a defined area right after any criminal activity.