Technology as a force for good

Technology helps deter crime

In a series of analyses on policing levels, criminologists have concluded that a higher police presence produces lower crime rates; most recently, increased hiring grants under the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) resulted in statistically significant lower robbery, larceny, auto theft and murders. A comprehensive study of U.S. policing from 1960 to 2010 found that every $1 spent on police generates $1.63 in social benefits, primarily by reducing murders. And an analysis of violent crime investigations in the Boston Police Department showed that when investigators and detectives can spend more time working a case, it is more likely to be solved.

If we know that better policing does indeed deter crime — particularly violent crime — technology must help facilitate that. In an era of increasingly lower public safety budgets and understaffed agencies, Flock Safety provides an affordable, effective, and ethically-engineered force multiplier that frees police to spend more time investigating and clearing cases.

Our approach works

Flock Safety was founded in 2017 with a lofty and ambitious mission — to eliminate crime. We know that with the right intentions and a values-first mindset, the power of technology can make our communities safer, healthier, and happier places to live and work.

We also know that our approach works, time and time again. After a six-month pilot, a county in Georgia reported a 60% reduction in crime after deploying Flock Safety cameras. A Community Improvement District (CID) that welcomes over 1 million visitors each year reported a 53% decrease in commercial burglary, a 23% decrease in car break-ins and a 5% decrease in residential burglary compared to 2020. A mid-sized city in California attributes a 70% year-over-year reduction in burglaries to Flock Safety.

You’ll notice that these statistics are not referencing the number of arrests or cases, but rather a reduction in crime committed. Why is this occurring? A substantial body of research shows that the most effective deterrent to crime is the likelihood of being caught. It is not about the severity or length of the punishment, but the certainty that a suspect will not get away with crime, that may prevent an individual from committing crime in the first place.

Privacy is a Fundamental Human Right

Flock Safety is purpose-built to protect citizen privacy. We believe that privacy is a bedrock of democracy and envision a world where crime is eliminated while maintaining strict privacy protections. We do not believe we have to sacrifice safety in service of privacy and have engineered our technologies and systems to adhere to these principles. Flock technology is built for limited, responsible monitoring by the appropriate actors after adverse events, not for 24/7 surveillance.

Customers own their data

Flock Safety customers own 100% of the data and footage collected through our cameras. What does that mean? Once captured, footage is transmitted immediately to a secure cloud server and encrypted at every point along the way. Flock Safety has not and will never sell or share public safety data with third parties. We will inform customers of any legitimate request for data from authorities, if there is a permitted investigative purpose.