Latin America. The study "5 Trends that are transforming public safety communications" shows that the intensive use of the cloud as a storage space, the development of predictive analysis of "big data" and evidence-based policing strategies, are elements that will help prevent and control crime effectively.
Concern about crime is often what most affects people's quality of life, especially in cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. For this reason, responding efficiently to emergency events or violence that threaten the life of the citizen must be a focus of attention and priority for governments.
Because public security agencies in the region face major challenges, they need to continue to move forward on their path to modernization to be well prepared.
Motorola Solutions knows that one of the most effective ways to address the problems of violence and criminality is with the sophistication of the government response. Thus, in a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Santiago de Chile, the situation of multiple police institutions in the region was analyzed and it was recognized that those that develop a serious process of technology acquisition have better results in the prevention and control of crime, although in turn, the adoption of technology is one of the areas in which more difficulties are observed due to longer cycles of adaptation, little investment, lack of planning and instructions that are constantly changing.
Through interviews with key stakeholders, Motorola Solutions has identified other needs and barriers that affect the public safety environment in Latin America. Among the biggest obstacles agencies often encounter to technology adoption include: limited funding, lengthy and tedious procurement processes, ad hoc decision-making, decentralized vision, last-minute maintenance, and a lack of an "as-a-service" culture.
Motorola Solutions identified 5 main trends that will allow governments to generate a positive change in the way they address public safety issues in the region, which are listed below:
1. A higher level of citizen participation
Citizens share information with their community through social networks. Today it is very common for the call to action of first responders to be recorded by any citizen who uses their mobile device to record the facts and upload the content to their social networks instantly. These videos not only increase transparency for the community, but also record the sequence of events and help protect first responders from false accusations.
2. Access to real-time and field data
It is critical that first responders have access to real-time data in the field. This trend continues year after year, and emphasizes the need for reliable information instantly. This presents significant challenges not only when it comes to data management, as video content captured with bodily devices is subject to the same rules of evidence preservation, chain of custody, and storage.
3. Communications with agencies in neighbouring jurisdictions
Adopt compatible applications and devices that can be integrated into regional or state systems to interconnect personnel from different networks and devices; this allows you to expand your possibilities of collaboration in real time by connecting to all types of platforms.
4. Use of collaborative technologies to expand capabilities
With more and more digital content available, first responders and their agencies expect to be able to instantly access more complete information, from multiple databases, GPS tracking of vehicles and people, to sensors and real-time video.
5. Managing the Technology Skills Gap
Agencies face a very complex challenge. Every day new technological platforms and constant updates emerge that make the administration of a system with the organization's own personnel more complex. The trend is to outsource management with network-savvy professionals, and share responsibility for managing complex technology.
While technology offers real potential, it is a fact that it will not end crime. However, it will be able to help authorities make smarter decisions, based on reliable data, about how to deploy the staff and scarce resources they have in the most efficient way. The region has best practices in isolation, but the next step will be to move towards integrating long-term plans, constant staff training and greater awareness of the importance of technology as a key component and ally for security within the development of more prosperous cities.
