Pune: The city police’s newly deployed network of CCTV cameras, linked to a makeshift control room with servers containing photographs and data related to almost 30,000 criminals and AI analytics, has helped generate 1,000 alerts for various crowd control situations and checked 30 people with crime records in the past three days.The AI-driven system, operating from Faraskhana in the heart of the city, is keeping a tab on criminals involved in chain snatching, body offences, pickpocketing, mobile snatching, robberies, dacoities, thefts, eve-teasing, as well as externed criminals and proclaimed absconders, during the ongoing Ganapati festival. “We are using all modern technologies to maintain peace and tranquillity in the city and nab criminals,” Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Thursday.Crime branch officials checked 30 criminals spotted in the crowd over the last three days. The police also uploaded photographs and data of criminals on their records. The system generated over 1,000 alerts for the police, informing them about abandoned bags, crowded situations or fights between individuals or groups.Assistant commissioner of police (communication and IT) Vivek Pawar said: “The servers with AI analytics are connected with the cameras, and these cameras look for suspects and their movements around the clock. More than 400 AI-enabled CCTVs have been installed in old parts of the city and at Swargate.”The police have uploaded their photographs, gaits and other features. “If the suspects are found moving in a crowd, ground officials pick them up for questioning. We have taken 85-90% matching for the AI analytics. The cameras and the system are successfully recognising people and objects,” Pawar said.The police are also looking for abandoned objects and keeping a watch on the crowd situation, fights between groups, and others. “With this system, we are also keeping a tab on the entrances of Metro stations such as Kasba, Mandai, Swargate, Deccan and Bal Gandharva, to avert crowded situations,” he said.The system is recording the footfall of devotees in particular areas. “The footfall counting system is helping us switch the bandobast from one point to another. We have started using internet protocol (IP) speakers in the old parts of the city. Our personnel from the control room are issuing orders to those on the ground through the speakers of a particular area. It has helped in terms of quickly passing orders to the ground police personnel on issues like diverting vehicles, managing crowds and nabbing someone if needed,” he said.
