Two Years to Weeks

Riot footage review slashed from years to weeks

S21 CCTV

Disclosure notice: This is a true account of a frontline investigation – written in collaboration with Semantics 21. This may contain accounts that some readers find upsetting.

This case study is based on a real experience shared by a law enforcement/investigation agency professional and written in collaboration with Semantics 21. It is presented in a first-person format to reflect the original voice and lived reality of the investigator, with all identifying information removed or adapted in accordance with UK GDPR and safeguarding standards.

Introduction

After large-scale riots broke out, we were tasked with reviewing a vast amount of video footage — more than we’d ever faced before. It came in from every direction: city surveillance systems, body-worn cameras, private security, even mobile phone uploads.

The scale was overwhelming. And the bigger issue? None of the tools in our current kit could handle it. Some of the traditional platforms stalled or crashed entirely under the weight of the files. Others just weren’t smart enough to make the job any easier. They couldn’t link faces across footage or flag up relevant scenes fast enough to be operationally useful.

We’re fortunate to have access to other CCTV review tools, but they couldn’t manage the scale of footage we were dealing with after the riots. The S21 solution is clearly designed for speed and accuracy.

We weren’t just falling behind — we were drowning in data.

From Overload to Outcome

We deployed S21 CCTV and had it up and running within a few hours. Straight away, we could see the difference. The system began scanning hundreds of video files, detecting movement, identifying individuals, and flagging up patterns we would never have found manually.

The facial detection was accurate, the motion tracking was fast, and we were finally able to build a proper timeline of events. We could tag footage, isolate people of interest, and generate clear, organised reports. Also because the tool runs entirely offline, we didn’t have to worry about data security or anything being sent externally, everything stayed in our control.

Originally we had estimated two years for our review process, with S21 CCTV, the team completed the investigation in a matter of weeks.

S21 CCTV didn’t just speed up the process, it changed how we worked. Using AI in policing is new, but it allowed us to review, identify and report quicker than we ever could imagine and helped us focus on what mattered.

“This tool doesn’t overpromise and underdeliver. It has saved us a tremendous amount of time and surprisingly, it’s much cheaper than other tools we have access to.”

Looking ahead?

This was a turning point for us. We saw what’s possible when the right technology meets real-world pressure. S21 CCTV proved itself, not just as a support tool, but as a core part of how we now handle large-scale investigations.

I know there are more features in the pipeline, and we’ll be watching closely. Because when the next major incident happens, and it will, we’ll be ready.

S21 solutions mentioned

S21 CCTV

AI-enhanced CCTV review, enhancement and reporting, designed for frontline teams and forensic labs alike.

Learn more about S21 CCTV

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