iCAN
Interactive Community Alert Network
“True public safety requires a collaboration between law enforcement and the community.”
Instant and anonymous
report suspicious activity to law enforcement or security forces
collaborate online in real-time to solve localized safety problems
Today's technology presents great incentive to civilians looking to engage in neighborhood watch programs. It is safer and easier than ever, especially with iCAN.
The explosive growth of security CCTV cameras in large, medium, and small-sized cities across America provides communities with the opportunity to participate.
With that in mind, we developed the Interactive Community Alert Network (iCAN), a patented system that enhances neighborhood watch with web-based technology and security CCTV cameras (where available).
When iCAN users observe suspicious activity, they log on to the iCAN incident reporting page and complete a simple form describing the event. Reporters are presented with still photo images of local CCTV camera coverage areas to help them identify the event location.
How It Works:
Example of real-time Collaboration
step 1
Private citizen sees and reports a crime via iCAN app. Once iCAN online users tap or click on the area of the still photo image that corresponds to the event location, the local security CCTV camera turns to the area indicated for viewing by police/security iCAN monitors in real-time.
step 2
Police monitor the crime tip remotely. Personnel observes live camera video feeds from citizen reports to determine if the activity constitutes a criminal act or situation requiring intervention. The feeds can be passed directly to patrols in the area, giving them advance surveillance as they respond.
step 3
If crime is viable, police are dispatched through AED network.
STEP 4
Police/security forces and iCAN users collaborate and see the problem through resolution.
GooD to know
According to National surveys, about 41 percent of Americans reside in communities covered by some form of neighborhood watch program.
This level of participation makes neighborhood watch the largest single organized crime-prevention activity in the nation.
Neighborhood crime watch programs can be valuable tools for police and security forces in reducing crime and connecting with the public. However, most crime watch programs have two serious drawbacks. They rely on personal contact, which often deters many citizens from "getting involved" for fear of reprisal. They also require community organizers to constantly motivate the community and coordinate their efforts with police forces.
Tried and true
iCAN was pioneered in New Jersey with tremendous success. The program’s ease of citizen participation, anonymity, and immediate police response and collaboration between reporters and security forces led to a significant drop in crime because would-be criminals perceived a lower community tolerance for crime and increased risk of detection and apprehension.
Equally important, it empowered iCAN users to work with law enforcement without fear of reprisal and significantly reduced fear-of-crime in program coverage areas.
iCAN provides users not only with a traditional tip line, text messaging, and public safety alert capabilities, but also with the ability to collaborate online with security forces throughout the reported event, receive investigative outcomes, and for security forces to view events in real-time.
