Technology Empowers Policing in Taichung: AI Forensics and Eagle Eye Anti-Fraud Initiative Fully Upgraded

With rapid technological advancements, the Taichung City Government Police Department continues to integrate AI and digital technologies to improve crime prevention and investigation efficiency. Police Commissioner Wu Jing-tien delivered a special report titled 'World-Class Criminal Forensics and Cutting-Edge AI Digital Applications: Precise Source Tracking to Combat Crime, Technological Policing Safeguarding Taichung’s Safety' at today’s (April 4) municipal meeting. He presented achievements in technology-enhanced policing, including Central Taiwan’s only TAF ISO/IEC 17025 internationally accredited forensic laboratory, a self-developed AI fingerprint recognition system, the first-of-its-kind cloud-based intelligent recognition system, and the establishment of the 'Eagle Eye Team'. In anti-fraud efforts, the department advances through four pillars—fraud awareness, interception, prevention, and prosecution—and has successfully blocked nearly 700 million NT dollars in victim funds, earning top national evaluations for six consecutive years.

Deputy Mayor Huang Kuo-jung commended the police force for actively leveraging technology to strengthen forensic capabilities, anti-fraud operations, and drone enforcement. He affirmed their achievements and encouraged all municipal agencies to utilize technological equipment to improve administrative efficiency and governance.

Huang noted that the police department shoulders critical responsibilities in public safety, traffic management, anti-fraud, and narcotics enforcement. In recent years, it has proactively adopted technology to address issues such as fraud, drugs, and drunk driving. He praised the department for continuously securing funding to align its criminal forensic laboratory with international standards, and for officers’ innovative spirit in independently developing software and optimizing fingerprint identification processes, thereby shortening case processing times and improving clearance rates. Moreover, drones can be applied not only in criminal investigations but also in disaster response and large-scale event security. The city government will continue supporting necessary technological equipment and budgets to enhance policing effectiveness.

Commissioner Wu emphasized that the department’s forensic laboratory is the only forensic institution in central Taiwan accredited under TAF ISO/IEC 17025. Since 2017, it has successively passed accreditation in DNA analysis, DNA kinship testing, and airgun identification. In 2025, the DNA lab handled 1,637 cases and successfully renewed its accreditation in June 2026, ensuring high-quality analysis through alignment with international standards and advanced technology, thus reinforcing judicial credibility and safeguarding citizens’ rights.

To boost investigative efficiency, officers independently developed the 'One-Stop Fraud Fingerprint Workflow' support software. Through smart recognition and automated matching, average processing time was reduced from 124 days to just 20 days. From 2024 to June 2026, the average fingerprint match rate in fraud cases reached 68%, significantly enhancing suspect identification and case resolution efficiency.

Wu stressed that in anti-fraud operations, the department launched 'Anti-Fraud Taichung Team 3.0', utilizing financial flow analysis and digital investigation techniques while expanding cross-domain collaboration with financial institutions, land registry offices, and the Taichung District Prosecutors Office. To date, nearly 700 million NT dollars in potential fraud losses have been intercepted, and the department’s anti-fraud initiatives have earned top national ratings for six consecutive years. Additionally, the department actively disrupts fraud at its source by removing online scam accounts and reporting high-risk foreign mobile numbers for deactivation, comprehensively protecting citizens’ financial security.

Furthermore, to combat cybercrime and manage massive volumes of image data, the department established a 'Cloud-Based Intelligent Recognition System' leveraging AI to accelerate image, text, and scene comparisons. In March 2026, the 'Eagle Eye Team' was formed to integrate surveillance cameras and license plate recognition systems, enhancing the efficiency of major criminal investigations. To counter emerging drug threats, portable 'Raman Spectrometers' were introduced, enabling frontline officers to conduct immediate, non-destructive testing for precise drug crime suppression.

The department added that the 'Drone Police Unit' was established in May 2021, currently deploying 53 certified pilots and 10 police drones. These are widely used in criminal investigations, evidence collection in special areas, traffic monitoring, and large-scale event security, having executed 195 missions to date. Real-time video transmission assists commanders in situational awareness and precise decision-making. Moving forward, the department will continue integrating AI, digital forensics, and drone technologies to strengthen crime prevention, investigation, and anti-fraud capabilities, safeguarding citizens’ lives and property through technology-empowered policing.