Flock Safety Claims Role in Solving 700,000 Crimes Annually, 10% of U.S. Total

Flock Safety, a public safety technology company, asserts its automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems and other technologies are instrumental in solving a significant portion of reported crime nationwide. Venture capitalist Garry Tan recently highlighted this impact, stating in a tweet, > "Flock Safety currently solves 700,000 reported cases of crime per year, which is about 10% of reported crime nationwide. And they're just getting started." This claim underscores the company's growing footprint in law enforcement and community safety.

The assertion that Flock Safety technology helps solve 700,000 crimes annually, accounting for approximately 10% of reported crime in the U.S., stems from a study conducted by the company itself. This analysis, sometimes in collaboration with academic researchers, applies a framework to Flock's customer base to estimate the total impact. The company emphasizes that its technology provides objective evidence, aiding law enforcement in closing cases.

Founded in 2017 by Garrett Langley, Flock Safety provides ALPR cameras, audio detection, and video surveillance systems to over 4,000 cities and 1,500 police departments across the United States. Operating on a subscription model, the company offers hardware, cloud-based software, and maintenance. Flock Safety has attracted significant venture capital funding, with investments from prominent firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global Management.

CEO Garrett Langley has articulated an ambitious vision, aiming for Flock Safety to help communities solve 25% of reported crime in the U.S. by the end of 2025. He views the technology as a "force multiplier" for police departments grappling with staffing shortages and budget constraints. Langley believes that increasing the solvability of crimes acts as a deterrent, contributing to safer communities.

Despite its reported successes and widespread adoption, Flock Safety's technology has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU and EFF. Critics raise concerns about the potential for mass surveillance, as the systems track the movements of vehicles, creating vast databases of location data for individuals, regardless of their involvement in criminal activity. While Flock Safety states that data is purged after 30 days and owned by the customer, the aggregation and sharing of this information across a national network remain a point of contention.

Furthermore, some independent analyses and investigative reports have questioned the direct correlation between the deployment of ALPR cameras and a significant reduction in overall crime rates, suggesting that the technology primarily aids in investigations after a crime has occurred rather than deterring it. The ongoing debate highlights the complex balance between leveraging advanced technology for public safety and safeguarding individual privacy rights.