GB2523376A

GB2523376A - Improved security public incident reporting, safety and awareness system

Info

Publication number: GB2523376A
Application number: GB1403173.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Rodney Francis Berry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-24
Filing date: 2014-02-24
Publication date: 2015-08-26
Also published as: GB201403173D0

Abstract

The inventive concept is embodied in a mobile phone usable "app" which will allow the phone user to take an instant snapshot of any incident which he or she observes and which might be suspicious, dangerous, potentially hazardous, illegal or criminal; with the resulting snapshot being transmitted automatically to a central logging unit to enable subsequent investigation before being either retained or pursued or simply discarded. Embodiments of the invention include a system comprising a number of apps, phones, and a central monitoring and analysing unit or units all appropriately transmittal-linked.

Description

IMPROVED SECURITY PUBLIC INCIDENT REPOR11NG. SAFETY AND AWARENESS SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to security and public reporting systems.

Backaound to the Invention Closed circuit television cameras ("CCTVs") are proliferating on street corners, in public places, and generaLly in an attempt by the authorities to police visuaLly any and every threat to public order. The results they generate are valuable in that they often enable miscreants, caught on camera to be identified and brought to appropriate justice.

They are however expensive to install and to maintain. In particular because the greater part of the recorded information is of no particuLar consequence (aside from number plate recognition, CCTV is not selective). They are also regarded as inherently and unnecessarily intrusive by many people. Unless they are mounted well out of the way -and out of the physical reach -of street goers, they can be and have been vandalised. And at the very least (although this is not a sustainable objection to their usage) they can be said to mar the appearance of the immediately surrounding built environment which impacts on everyone.

The need to maintain and indeed to increase visuaL vigiLance is paramount in today's urban society. MereLy increasing the number of what many aLready regard as an unacceptabLe forest of CCTV cameras is not a compLete answer. Even if the objections outLined above were to be overcome, the analysis and future monitoring of the resuLts they feed back demands enormous resource in human hours and concentration.

There is therefore a need for another) possibly compLementary, form of visuaL feedback to enabLe a deveLoped society to continue and if possibLe to improve the monitoring of people's movements) actions and interactions.

Summary of the Invention

According to the inventive concept this need is suppLied by originating a mobiLe phone usabLe "app" which will aLLow the phone user to take an instant snapshot of any incident which he or she observes and which might be suspicious, dangerous, potentiaLLy hazardous, iLlegaL or criminaL; with the resulting snapshot being transmitted automatically to a centraL Logging unit to enabLe subsequent investigation before being either retained or pursued or simpLy discarded.

The technoLogy to bring this about exists. VirtuaLLy everyone in the United Kingdom) for example) already has a mobiLe phone which in the majority of cases is constantly active as most people today lead increasingly round-the-dock LifestyLes and their overwheLmingLy chosen method of communication is a digitaL one.

Such peopLe (i.e. the majority of this country's currentLy approximateLy 60 miLLion inhabitants) are well used to whipping out their phone and, increasingLy, are aLready used to taking quick photographs with it. If asked to get used to impuLsive "point-and-shoot" shots, they wouLd adapt unhesitatingLy.

Modifying mobiLe phones to incorporate a wide-angLe photographic eye in one or both end regions of the phone structure, thereby faciLitating the point-and-shoot mode of use, wiLL be achievabLe by those skiLLed in such fields without the need for further inventive thought In practicaL terms, such software modifications to existing mobiLe phones, as most phones are now touch screen, couLd, through a customised app render it simpLe for the user only to whip out his or her phone and, without even having to Look at it, appLy a pre-determined, quick finger-drawn swoosh, sweep, number or Letter -so that the minimum time wouLd elapse between deciding to take the shot and actuaLLy taking it. Most phones can be set to automaticaLLy record date) time and geographic Location of photos taken. It is envisaged that for security reasons the application will not permit the phone to retain a copy of the image taken and that the image wILL be forwarded to the "centraL database" within seconds. An automated receipt will be generated. If practicable, the user can compLete a short informative questionnaire to aid the onward route of the image to the correct Location by describing the subject matter, i.e. traffic, suspected theft) benefit fraud etc. The user may aLso compLete/enhance the report at a Later time.

At the very Least, and again preferably, the area to be pressed wouLd be visually markedLy distinguished from those other controLs on the phone. Other ways of achieving this desired end incLude, by way of exampLe only, something as simpLe but effective as a rapid doubLe-press of the screen area of a modern phone where increasingly there are few if any touch buttons and virtuaLLy alL the phone's functions can be seLected by Lightweight finger strokes in different directions.

The advantages given by the invention are many. As remarked above) such a system would at Least aid and might possibLy eventualLy and reLatively quickly repLace today's conventionaL CCTV instaLlations. It couLd aid the current Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom in assessing whether enough evidence, of good enough quaLity, can be assembled to justify recommending a prosecution. And in such instances it couLd heLp secure convictions if it was instrumental in shifting the chances of success from enough to justify recommending prosecution" (the CPS requirement) to "proven beyond reasonable doubt" which is of course the requirement to secure conviction under a criminaL charge in today's justice system. It couLd aLso aid the authorities to prevent and soLve criminal acts.

It couLd aLso be used as a centraL Lost and found register and in fact generaLLy make it easier for the public to report aLl or any matters that wouLd currentLy be carried out at the LocaL poLice station. Thus reducing the overwheLming municipaL cost of conventional pubLic reporting.

Deterrent Public awareness of the existence of this application would further heLp to reduce potentiaL undesirable activity due to the fact that anyone with a phone couLd result in an offender being "caught in the act".

Reward A reward system is also envisaged.

Links: in addition to the poLice, the system wouLd be Linked to various other government and municipaL departments, i.e.: Crimestoppers (self-expLanatory) Highways: pothoLes, subsidence, damaged signs/street Lights) animaL fouLing, fLy tipping etc. RSPCA: animaL cruelly Parking: dangerous and iLLegal parking Weights and measures: retaiL pricing discrepancies, misrepresentation DHSS: iLLegal immigrants, iLLegaL employees, benefit fraud Road traffic: dangerous/careLess driving, exhaust emission) overLoading, driving under the infLuence, mobiLe phone use whiLst driving Education authority: truancy Housing and estates: Loose or falLing tiLes/masonry HNIRC: VAT and tax evasion Note -this list is not exhaustive.

The invention may be embodied in the app itseLf; a phone incorporating such an app; a system comprising apps, phones, and a central monitoring and anaLysing unit or units aLL appropriateLy transmittaL-Linked; or a program enabLing such a system to operate and/or controLLing such operation.

Claims

S1. A mobile phone usable 0app which will allow the phone user to take an Instant snapshot Many irddent Which he or she obse,ves and which might be suspicious.dangerous. potentially hazardous, illegal or cdmInai with the resulting snapshot being transmitted automatically tot central togging unit to enabLe subsequent investigation before being either retained or pursued or simply discarded.
2. The invention of claim 1 incorporated Inca mobile phone.
3. A system comprising a numberofapps. phones, i4 acentral monitoring and analysing unit or units alt appropriately transmittal-linked._
4. Apparatus enabling the system of claim 3 to operate. (0o. Apparatusadapted to control the operation of the system of claim t cy) o 6. Apparatus substantially as described herein4 tI