Speeds up Acquisition, Viewing and Presentation of Video Evidence
At the Forensics Europe exhibition in London this week, Amped Software is launching Amped REPLAY, a new tool which allows frontline police officers and investigators to quickly and easily view, analyse and present video evidence. With REPLAY, non-specialist units can convert and play videos from a variety of proprietary formats, apply basic enhancements, annotate and redact images for investigations and media release, all while maintaining the integrity of the evidence and without having to rely on the availability of experts in the forensic video lab.
Video footage from CCTV and DVR systems, body-worn cameras, dash cams, mobile phones and social media can be crucial in progressing an investigation, especially in the so-called ‘golden hour,’ when time is of the essence. However, with a multitude of proprietary video formats to consider, even playing and viewing the footage can be time-consuming and difficult. Powered by the same CCTV video conversion engine that sits behind the company’s other solutions for forensic experts, Amped REPLAY solves this problem by enabling users to simply drag and drop the footage into the software, where it is ready to view.
From there, REPLAY’s intuitive and easy-to-use interface gives users the ability to perform quick enhancements, to annotate or redact parts of the footage and to export the results to be forwarded to a colleague or shared with the media as part of an appeal for information. For example, in the case of a missing persons enquiry, key details such as the individual’s face or the number plate of the car they were last seen in can be magnified ahead of sharing with local press.
By enabling frontline officers and investigators to independently view the evidence and proceed with any further lines of inquiry, the technology helps alleviate stretched police resources. In routine cases it empowers frontline professionals to do more independently of the forensic video lab, thereby making themselves more self-sufficient and freeing up forensic experts to work on more challenging and complex cases.
“We know how problematic proprietary video formats can be for our users and their organisations,” commented Amped Software’s CEO, Martino Jerian. “We saw the need for a tool to assist an entire organisation with its video evidence, starting from the field. With Amped REPLAY, organisations are reassured that video is processed correctly, using validated tools to ensure forensic integrity.”
While REPLAY facilitates access and use of visual evidence, it also ensures that the original footage maintains its integrity by monitoring any modification to the images so that every enhancement and annotation works as a filter, leaving the initial file untouched. This means that the evidence isn’t tampered with and that each professional who comes in contact with it is protected.
“As a former police officer, and specialist in forensic video analysis, I know just how crucial video evidence is to the successful resolution of a case,” observed International Trainer at Amped Software, David Spreadborough. “We’ve created a tool which can be utilised throughout the entire justice system, empowering investigators and frontline officers to examine evidence in the initial stages of the investigation process, reducing delays and ensuring resources can be deployed where they can have the greatest effect.”
Amped REPLAY is compatible with standard PCs and does not require additional plug-ins, third-party software or special hardware.
