London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

CCTV software ‘to spot pickpockets before they strike’

CCTV software ‘to spot pickpockets before they strike’

The inventors of London’s Oyster card are developing technology with the potential to analyse CCTV and predict if a passenger is about to have a heart attack, dodge a fare - or even go into labour.

It is claimed Cubic Corporation’s “automated scenario recognition” system could help to anticipate platform fights or spot pickpockets before they strike.

Experts say that in future the technology could also play a role in fighting crime or identifying early indicators of potential terrorist activity.

The neural network trains itself to predict unusual situations by learning patterns from thousands of hours of high-definition station CCTV footage, according to papers lodged with the European Patent Office.

Cubic suggests the system would be more efficient than human CCTV controllers as the robots can watch multiple cameras and never forget. In an emergency, alerts would be sent straight to police, the fire brigade or paramedics.

The patent says: “In contrast to the human, the neural network can be alert 24/7, simultaneously watch multiple cameras to look for similar scenarios it has been taught to look out for, respond instantaneously, and constantly learn new scenarios without forgetting anything. The judgment could replace the human element or may be used as a filtration process.”

The firm suggests scenario recognition would be able to scan the “demeanour” of pickpockets and fare-dodgers trying to use busy crowds to “disguise the behaviour” from humans.

The patent says: “If the user has practised fare evasion in the past, the neural computing system may alert the nearest fare inspector … to carefully watch the particular user as he navigates the validation area of the transit station.” Security expert Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, said: “They are trying to get machines to analyse the huge amount of CCTV footage out there now and look for unusual patterns, so you can identify potential terrorist activity or someone potentially carrying contraband and flag that up to security operators.

“Machines can analyse an awful lot more activities much more quickly than humans can do, but you’re always going to need a human in the loop to make sense of what they find.”

Cubic declined to comment on the patent.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×