How WISE transformed environmental enforcement with advanced body camera technology.

Overview

WISE (Waste Investigation Support and Enforcement) partners with local authorities across the UK to address environmental crimes like littering, graffiti, and illegal dumping, or fly-tipping. Operating in diverse environments, from busy cities to rural areas, WISE faced challenges ensuring compliance with data protection regulations while delivering transparent and efficient enforcement. Since implementing the HALOS Body Camera solution in 2021, WISE has transformed its operations, enhancing safety, accountability, and productivity.

Problem

WISE operates in a field where transparency, compliance, and efficiency are non-negotiable. As a partner to local councils across the UK, they tackle environmental crimes ranging from littering to fly-tipping, often facing situations that require clear evidence and impartial enforcement. However, the nature of their work presented several challenges.

Managing environmental enforcement cases often involves multiple stakeholders, including witnesses, offenders, and council officials. Without reliable evidence, resolving disputes or pursuing legal action could quickly become complex and time-consuming. The need for GDPR compliance added another layer of difficulty, as data security and privacy regulations demanded robust safeguards for handling sensitive information.

Connectivity issues further complicated their work, especially in rural areas where weak signals hampered the ability to upload and access critical footage in real time. For a company operating on limited budgets, the cost of procuring high-quality equipment presented an additional hurdle.

John Dunne, Managing Director of WISE, knew that to meet these challenges head-on, they needed a reliable, scalable solution to streamline their operations while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and accountability.

Solution

WISE turned to HALOS to streamline their operations and address their enforcement challenges. The HALOS Body Cameras provided high-quality video and audio recording, creating an indisputable record of events. Automatic uploads to the HALOS Vault eliminated the time-consuming task of manual transfers, allowing officers to focus on their responsibilities.

HALOS’ 4G connectivity ensured reliable performance across all environments. The cameras seamlessly switched between network providers, enabling real-time uploads of critical footage, even in rural areas where connectivity was previously a challenge.

The monthly subscription model made it easy for WISE to scale their operations without large upfront costs. When WISE secured a contract with Manchester City Council, this approach allowed them to deploy 20 cameras in advance, ensuring the system was fully tested and ready for action.

HALOS also enhanced GDPR compliance by securely storing footage in the Vault, preventing tampering and ensuring sensitive data was protected. This gave WISE confidence in meeting the stringent requirements of council contracts while maintaining transparency and accountability.

Results

Since deploying the HALOS Body Camera solution, WISE has achieved remarkable outcomes:

• 100% Prosecution Success Rate: The irrefutable evidence captured by HALOS Cameras has led to a perfect prosecution record.
• Streamlined Processes: Automatic uploads and reliable connectivity have significantly reduced administrative workloads, freeing up resources for core enforcement activities.
• Improved Safety and Transparency: HALOS Body Cameras have enhanced officer safety by de-escalating potentially volatile situations and providing an impartial record of events.
• Cost Management: The monthly subscription model enabled WISE to scale effectively, integrating advanced technology while maintaining financial stability.