Forensic Search: Genetec Solution for Crime Patterns

December 6, 2025

Use cases

genetec forensic search functionality

Genetec Clearance sits at the intersection of VIDEO, records, and chain-of-custody. It provides a unified PLATFORM that teams use to collect, annotate, and present evidence. For many agencies, this solution turns raw footage into structured items that an investigator can use in court. For example, the platform supports bit-for-bit IMAGING of drives and cameras so teams can preserve original data and protect integrity. This imaging step follows long-standing best practices in digital law; as one expert notes, “Creating a forensic image is not just a technical step; it’s a legal safeguard” John Doe.

Clearance indexes metadata so users can search across video, documents, and logs. Then, it can rebuild timelines that show who did what, when. Genetec also integrates with Real-Time Crime Centres (RTCCs) and live feeds to surface incidents as they happen, and to push those events into investigative workflows. This makes it easier to collect tracking data from ANPR sensors and to correlate that tracking data with camera clips and server logs. The system uses a distributed architecture so storage and processing scale with demand, and so large agencies avoid bottlenecks.

Because over 70% of criminal investigations now involve digital evidence, platforms like this must deliver reliable, fast discovery. Genetec links to other manufacturer systems via APIs and plugins, and it can publish events to a broader SECURITY network. Visionplatform.ai can augment that flow by detecting people, vehicle, and ANPR events in real time and streaming structured events into Clearance, which helps teams locate footage and then collect key items. Consequently, the combination of Genetec and tailored AI can accelerate investigative tasks and improve outcome clarity.

features of forensic search

Advanced data filtering is central to the features of forensic search. Genetec supports keyword and metadata queries across video, documents, and logs. Also, analysts can run timeline queries that narrow results to a specific hour or to a suspect’s path. The platform supports pattern-recognition analytics that link incidents by similar signatures, such as vehicle type, movement, or time-of-day. These features let teams identify relationships between otherwise isolated items.

Support for multiple evidence types is strong. Body-cam footage, ANPR records, and surveillance clips coexist in one workspace. For phone forensics and cell phone recovery, teams can attach extracted mobile content to cases and then cross-reference that data with camera footage. The system also includes modular design with plug-ins, APIs, and third-party integrations so providers can extend functionality. For instance, Visionplatform.ai supplies real-time detections that feed Clearance via MQTT or webhooks, turning cameras into sensors that generate structured events for downstream analysis. This reduces duplicate work and helps agencies manage large archives.

Moreover, Genetec offers triage workflows and browser-based review so users can quickly mark critical evidence and generate reports. Analysts often spend 40–60% of their time on search and extraction tasks, so automation yields big savings (day-in-the-life). The software also preserves chain-of-custody with immutable audit logs and role-based controls. In practice, this reduces risk and speeds legal disclosure.

A modern control room with multiple large monitors showing security camera feeds, abstract icons representing metadata overlays and timeline scrubbers, no people visible

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crime pattern analysis and key pattern detection

Pattern detection in Genetec combines geospatial mapping and timeline analytics to reveal trends in incident locations. Analysts can map events on a city grid, then cluster those events by vehicle, time, or other attributes. This lets teams spot emerging hotspots and recurring modus operandi. In one example, analytics tied ANPR hits to nearby camera clips and then to a set of suspect vehicles, which narrowed the pool of leads quickly.

Dashboards provide clear visual cues so supervisors can monitor trends and decide where to deploy officers. For instance, recurring vehicle descriptions can feed a heatmap showing likely patrol zones. These visual tools support proactive policing by predicting hotspots and suggesting resource allocation. When teams combine Clearance indexing with third-party detections, they can detect links that would otherwise remain hidden in large archives.

Case studies show how detection of repeating behaviors led to resolution. In a recent municipal example, investigators linked a string of daytime thefts by matching a vehicle plate with ANPR logs and then pulling matching clips from the archive. The process reduced search time and led to an arrest. Statistics show that modern forensic tools can extract data from over 95% of current devices, which broadens the pool of usable leads (types of digital forensics).

For pattern work, analysts need strong metadata hygiene. Genetec’s platform indexes timestamps, camera IDs, and location data so teams can trace movement across a camera network. In addition, integrating public data such as carrier tower logs or social media mentions can provide context. The result is a layered investigative view that helps to identify suspects and to deliver prosecutable narratives.

streamline investigation for cases faster

Automation cuts repetitive work and helps investigators close cases faster. Genetec automates routine searches and can generate standard reports on demand. This automation reduces manual review and lets skilled analysts focus on complex tasks. For teams, the measured impact can be significant: many departments report a 40–60% reduction in manual review time once workflows and analytics are in place (day-in-the-life).

Timeline visualisation accelerates reconstruction. Users can drag time markers, stack video tracks, and instantly see synchronized camera angles. Then, they can annotate moments and attach clips to case folders. Shared workspaces enable collaborative review so multiple team members add notes and tags in real time. This reduces handoff delay between units and improves continuity.

Automation also includes smart triage. The platform can trigger follow-up actions when a detection meets certain criteria, such as a vehicle match or a suspect person sighting. These triggers can create tasks and send alerts to teams in the field, which helps to allocate resources quickly. Visionplatform.ai complements this flow by delivering accurate people and vehicle detections at the edge, so alerts remain on-premise and meet GDPR and EU AI Act concerns. Taken together, these capabilities streamline the pipeline so analysts can close more cases faster and with greater confidence.

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access and evidence management for law enforcement

Role-based controls and audited trails keep chain-of-custody intact. Genetec enforces granular permissions so only authorized staff may export or redact footage. Every action gets logged. This audit trail preserves integrity and helps when cases go to court.

Secure sharing allows collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions. Files can be packaged, encrypted, and delivered to partner agencies or prosecutors while maintaining proof of access. Cloud-based options exist, and on-premise deployments remain available for teams that prefer local storage. The choice between cloud and on-premise helps agencies meet regulatory requirements and internal policy.

Because digital evidence often comes from many sources, the system supports aggregation. Teams can attach body-cam clips, ANPR exports, and phone forensics packages to a single case file. This unified archive simplifies discovery and speeds legal review. For smaller units, a hybrid approach with a central server and edge processing can reduce bandwidth while enabling secure sharing. In practice, the ability to package items and to generate court-ready reports reduces friction during disclosure.

Finally, the platform supports export formats and redaction workflows so sensitive data can be protected before disclosure. This helps agencies meet privacy rules and deliver admissible material to courts. For teams seeking to improve monitoring and analysis, integrating sensor outputs from Visionplatform.ai provides richer event context without moving raw video off-site.

A forensic analyst workspace showing a timeline of synchronized video clips, metadata panels, and an audit log on a desktop screen, no people visible

investigator and user tool benefits in forensics industry

Improved efficiency is one of the strongest benefits for the user community. Interfaces that expose search facets and metadata let analysts find items faster. Error rates drop as teams use standardized workflows, and recent studies report accuracy improvements with modern tools that push error rates below 2% (forensic analysis). As a result, units deliver clearer evidence packages to prosecutors.

Training time falls when interfaces are intuitive. Genetec’s layout focuses on tasks investigators perform daily, such as clipping, annotating, and tagging. This reduces onboarding time for new hires and helps teams scale during peak demand. In the wider industry, over 70% of investigations now rely on digital evidence, which places a premium on tools that help teams process video, phone, and server logs efficiently (why digital forensics matters).

The roadmap for these platforms points to more AI-powered enhancements. Forensic investigations will benefit from smarter object recognition at the edge, faster cross-indexing of records, and better support for mobile and IoT sources. Vendors and providers must design solutions that respect privacy and that keep data control local. Visionplatform.ai’s approach—on-prem processing and customer-controlled datasets—fits this trend by allowing teams to enhance accuracy using their own video and to publish events for operations without broad data export. This model helps agencies satisfy compliance while they scale detection and monitoring across their camera estate.

FAQ

What is Genetec Clearance and how does it help investigations?

Genetec Clearance is a platform for managing and reviewing digital evidence. It helps teams collect, index, and present evidence from video, ANPR, and logs so investigators can build cases more quickly.

Can Genetec handle body-cam footage and ANPR data?

Yes. The platform supports multiple evidence types, including body-cam clips and ANPR exports. That capability lets teams correlate vehicle tracking with nearby camera footage for stronger leads.

How does the platform protect chain-of-custody?

Genetec uses role-based controls and immutable audit logs to record every action. This creates an evidentiary trail that preserves integrity for legal review.

Does Genetec integrate with real-time detection systems?

Yes. It integrates with RTCCs and live feeds so detections can generate tasks and pull matching archive clips. For example, Visionplatform.ai can stream ALPR and people detection events into Clearance to facilitate rapid review.

How much time can automation save investigators?

Automation can cut manual review substantially. Many teams report a 40–60% reduction in review time after adopting automated workflows and timeline tools, allowing them to focus on analysis and prosecutions.

Is the platform suitable for cloud and on-premise deployments?

Yes. Agencies can choose cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployments depending on policy and data-protection needs. This flexibility helps teams meet regulatory obligations while maintaining operational capacity.

Can Genetec help predict hotspots for proactive policing?

Yes. Mapping and analytics dashboards reveal recurring locations and times, which supports hotspot prediction and resource allocation. This helps law enforcement deploy units where they are most needed.

What kinds of evidence can be attached to a case file?

Video clips, ANPR records, phone forensics packages, and server logs can all be attached. The unified archive simplifies discovery and speeds legal disclosure across agencies.

How does the system support privacy and compliance?

Genetec includes redaction workflows and controls to limit who can view sensitive content. Combined with local processing options, this supports GDPR and related data-protection frameworks.

Where can I learn more about camera and ANPR integrations?

For detailed examples of camera-based detection, see resources on people detection and ANPR in airports. These pages show practical deployments and integration patterns that aid investigative workflows: people detection in airports, ANPR/LPR in airports, and forensic search in airports.

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