Back in 2016, the United States Department of Justice reported that over 69% of law enforcement agency vehicles had dash cams, or in-car video systems for law enforcement professionals, installed. At the time, dash cams were still considered somewhat of a newer tool in the police arsenal.

This article was written by Petra Bywood, ISCRR Senior Research Officer (retired). If you’ve found this article useful, please let us know via social media: Twitter or LinkedIn

Argus ICV is a dependable choice that captures both wide-angle and telephoto views simultaneously in 1080p. The telephoto lens can be pivoted to capture the most important perspectives in the moment. This also enables an enhanced live view for users.

Easy Interaction: Look for devices with a clean interface that is always ready to capture evidence. Also, evaluate the accessibility to review video footage at the patrol car immediately after capture.

The Evidence Review is a valid approach that strikes a good balance between methodological rigour and efficiency. It aims to synthesise the best available evidence to inform practice and policy, whether it is to prevent harm, identify optimal treatment or reduce administrative costs. The key strength of this approach is that it can be tailored to the needs of the end-users, not only in the focus and scope, but also in the way the findings are presented – clearly and succinctly, but underpinned by a robust and transparent process.

After the citations from all sources have been downloaded into Endnote, duplicates are removed and the remaining citations are screened by title and abstract according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The remaining full-text articles are then obtained and screened for eligibility. The process is documented in a PRISMA flow chart, recording reasons why articles were excluded. Maintaining transparency in this process means the end-user can be confident that the process was unbiased and comprehensive; and the final evidence base was the best available to answer the research questions.

After reviewing many options available and considering the specific features that security agencies require from dash cam solutions, the following is a checklist that will help you make an educated purchase when implementing the technology for your vehicle or fleet:

Fortunately, there are various checklists available to help identify potential biases and other systematic errors that reduce the quality of a study. Having two independent researchers using checklists to assess the quality maintains objectivity and strengthens the process. Since research findings across studies are rarely consistent, assessing the study quality may explain why findings between similar studies differ and which ones provide the best basis for decision-making. That is, critically appraising the methods of a study distinguishes between a well-written article (good communication) and a well-conducted study (good research).

Once the systematic steps have been undertaken and documented, the most important part is to determine what it all means. This involves referring back to the aims of the review, the research questions and the needs of the end-user. The tables of extracted data form a good basis for a narrative synthesis. The similarities and differences in outcomes can be analysed to identify trends and inconsistencies; and the strengths and weaknesses in the literature are acknowledged without dwelling on them too much. Finally, the principal findings are identified and stated in clear and plain language, considering the implications for those who are likely to be impacted by decisions.

Each review is tailored to the needs of the decision-makers. The first critical stage of negotiation between the researchers and the end-users determines the scope and focus of the review and the timeframe for delivery. Clearly articulated and focused questions that can be answered within a specified timeframe are developed. The PICO approach, which defines the Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes of interest, is useful for framing the questions and guiding the review process. This is where the researchers find out what is needed and the decision-makers find out what is possible.

Today ́s pre-crime technology works not as an oracle foretelling the future. Rather, it consists of various types of data helping law enforcement predict the possibility of crime-related events…

Data Management and Storage: Some dash cameras have systems that provide an efficient means for managing video evidence, making use of dash cam footage faster and easier. The ability to classify footage and securely share it with prosecutors, the media, and other pertinent parties is a critical feature.

As many options available in the market will surface, we often evaluate thinking on single-vehicle usage. Still, the right decision is for a fleet to work under one system in most cases. So try to find the best option that suits your checklist while keeping an affordable investment when upgrading your vehicles.

The parameters of the review are defined by the research questions. This involves identifying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the length of the search period and the type of studies that are likely to address the questions. For example, research related to effective interventions to protect healthcare workers from bullying in the workplace during the COVID pandemic will exclude bullying in other workplaces and only include research published since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

Since body worn cameras (BWCs) were first introduced to police departments in the US, they have been the subject of a huge amount of speculation and debate. And while much has been said and written about how police body worn cameras (BWCs) affect police transparency and public relations, much less has been said about how […]

The simultaneous use of body cameras worn by police officers and police dash cameras can help paint a detailed picture of any serious incidents or altercations that arise.

Thanks to its HD wide view, Argus In-Car Video’s interior camera can be mounted wherever is most convenient. It also uses infrared technology to make sure that nothing is missed.

RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) is the most common method of checking speed, with about 100,000 in use nationwide. It is the tool of choice by most traffic police officers, but how does it work? A RADAR gun works by sending a signal to a passing vehicle, and the signal bounces back and returns to […]

Dash camera technology not only aids in documenting the actions of law enforcement officers but also protects them from false accusations, ensuring that justice is served based on verifiable information. In-car video systems also contribute to fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, promoting a culture of transparency and accountability that benefits both officers and the public.

Given the short timeframe (compared with a traditional systematic review), there is no time to trawl through thousands of citations. Recording different combinations of key terms means you get an idea of which terms yield the most relevant articles. If there are too many citations to manage (more than 500), some limits may be applied, such as reducing the search period and limiting articles to higher level evidence (e.g. systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials). In contrast, if there are too few articles (less than 50) to answer the research questions, searches may be expanded to include lower levels of evidence (e.g. uncontrolled studies, case reports or qualitative research) or increase the search period. Sometimes, a scoping search may reveal that there are too few published articles on a topic to undertake a useful Evidence Review and an alternative approach may be considered (e.g. Environmental Scan).

The Evidence Review, which is also known as a Rapid Review or Rapid Response, has been developed to meet the needs of decision-makers who do not have the luxury of waiting 6-12 months for the outcomes of systematic review before taking action.1, 2 For example, when COVID-19 emerged in 2020 as a global public health crisis, the speed and volume of information quickly overwhelmed decision-makers and there was a growing imperative to make timely decisions based on the best available evidence.3

Field of View: Wide-angle lenses are the way to capture wider surroundings and gather as much detail as possible. Additionally, you can look for a system with superior telephoto capability to see details that are further away with greater accuracy.

According to the internationally-accepted hierarchy of evidence, a systematic literature review or meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials is the highest level of evidence. A ‘gold standard’ systematic review identifies evidence from all the available research on a specific problem, critically examines the quality and relevance of individual studies, objectively analyses the credibility and reliability of the findings and pulls it all together to form a conclusion. The process is independent, methodical, transparent and rigorous. However, it is also time-consuming and resource-intensive.

At one time, car video cameras were mere hard-drive repositories of video footage, inefficient and unreliable at times when needed. Dash cam technology has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Hardware now has a system of interconnected devices, combining multiple cameras and audio recording terminals. Software optimization renders higher resolution than ever at lighter compression formats, allowing faster video file sharing.

We draw on all types of information to make decisions, often subconsciously and in a matter of seconds. Our experiences, personal preferences, lessons learned and social constraints influence each decision. For the most part, those sources of information are sufficient to solve the small problems and get us safely through the day, without disastrous consequences.

Audio Recording: Make sure your dash cam system includes microphones or is compatible with peripheral recording terminals that can be controlled from within and outside the vehicle. Make sure you compare the range and transmission capabilities of the dash cams you consider. Compatibility with wireless microphones is important for capturing audio outside the vehicle.

HD Video Resolution: Not all cameras within a dash cam system might record in full HD resolution. Most of the time, front and interior cameras should provide the best image quality available since they will capture most of the action surrounding your vehicle. Interior cameras should have a wide FOV so they can be installed anywhere in the cabin and be capable of IR or low light recording.

KUSTOM SIGNALS INC is a part of MPD, Inc., headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky. MPD, Inc. consisting of six wholly-owned subsidiaries, which includes MPD Components, Inc., MPH Industries, Inc., Lion Laboratories Limited, CMI, Inc., MPD (Singapore) PTE LTD, and Kustom Signals, Inc. MPD, Inc. employs over 320 employees worldwide, all committed to producing the highest quality products for their customers. Visit: www.mpdinc.com

Dash cams provide a crucial layer of transparency, accountability, and evidence gathering in the line of duty. They record a continuous loop of video footage, capturing crucial moments during traffic stops, pursuits, and various interactions with the public. The objective and unbiased nature of dash cam footage serves as a reliable source of evidence in investigations, helping to clarify events and providing an accurate account of incidents.

Users can review and classify footage directly from the Argus ICV’s Android-powered tablet. The interface makes it easy to view multiple feeds or focus on a single camera to view the live feed or review footage to see what exactly was caught on camera. Argus Data Vault provides a compatible video evidence file management system. ADV combines the power of an easy-to-use back office system with smart fleet management tools.

However, some problems are complex and need a more measured approach. ‘Wicked problems’ like climate change, substance abuse or suicide prevention can be difficult to define, have far-reaching impacts and the proposed solutions are hotly contested. Typically, knowledge about such complex problems is incomplete, conflicting and mutable. Therefore, strategic decisions should be informed by weighing up options based on the best available evidence. That means examining the findings from many studies to get a full picture of the problem, the potential solutions and the implications of decisions.

Documenting the strategy is essential; checking the relevance of citations along the way to ensure the search is comprehensive, but targeted. Once the strategy generates relevant articles, without too much irrelevant material, run the search through each selected database and download the citations into a reference manager, such as Endnote.

The market offers many good options available, and below you will find the criteria necessary to make an educated decision.

A data extraction tool (e.g. Excel spreadsheet) is useful for ensuring the relevant data are extracted from the included studies. The type of data may vary depending on the focus of the review; but will usually include: citation details (author, title, year), country, study design, population of interest (age, sample size), intervention details, follow-up period, outcomes and results (statistical data, significance). Having all the data in a spreadsheet also makes it easier to transfer relevant information into tables in the report.

Ultimately, decision-makers would like to know that the evidence used as a basis for important decisions is credible and reliable. Quality appraisal covers three domains: level of evidence, quality of evidence and strength of evidence. No individual study is perfect. But studies that try to reduce bias in the way the study was conducted, analysed and reported are more trustworthy than those that fail to do so. Reducing the potential biases in a study means the results are more likely to be closer to the truth. Bias can occur at many stages of a study from recruitment to measurement, analysis and reporting.

The Evidence Review, which maintains key aspects of scientific rigour and transparency of a traditional systematic review, is designed to be flexible. It focuses predominantly on practice and policy issues and can be conducted in a much shorter timeframe (6-12 weeks) than the traditional systematic review.

Developing an effective and efficient search strategy takes time, but the investment is well worth it. The search strategy involves the following steps:

When you think of your local law enforcement vehicles that patrol your streets, you may think of models based on convenience and effectiveness. But here are some of the most unexpected and coolest police cars that have been produced.

We make them multiple times a day, every day, and in many different situations – at work, at home, and in public or social settings. What shall I wear to work today? Should I go to the shop before picking up the children from school? Where shall we go for dinner on Saturday?