7 Automated redaction software options protecting police bodycam footage
Body-worn cameras (bodycams) are now standard issue for many police forces. They help with accountability, transparency, and evidence gathering. But raw footage often captures faces, license plates, bystanders, or other personally identifiable information (PII) that legally must be redacted before sharing or public release. Doing this manually is time-consuming, error prone, and expensive.
Automated redaction tools solve this problem: they use AI to detect and blur or remove PII in video and audio, often integrating into digital evidence management systems. That means forces save time, reduce risk, and maintain compliance with laws like FOIA and GDPR.
Below are 7 software solutions including Secure Redact (by Pimloc), and competing options, all designed to protect sensitive data in police bodycam footage.
🧾 Comparison table: Automated redaction tools (UK & Global, 2025)
| Rank | Tool | Key Media Types Supported | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Secure Redact | Video, audio (bodycam, CCTV, dashcam) | Auto-blur faces, licence plates, screen content; audio redaction + transcripts; SaaS, API, on-premise options |
| 2. | Veritone Redact | Video, audio, images | Detects heads, license plates, notepads; transcription; audit logs; custom objects |
| 3. | Foxit Smart Redact | Documents / PDFs | Automatically redacts PII in PDFs; batch processing; policy-driven workflows |
| 4. | E-Redact | Documents | GDPR-focused text/document redaction; UK-based compliance tool |
| 5. | DocuShield (Paragon Systems) | Documents | GDPR-compliant document redaction; dashboards and editing controls |
| 6. | Redactor.ai | Documents / images | AI-based automated redaction; bulk processing |
| 7. | Super.ai | Documents / scans | Intelligent document redaction workflows for high volumes |
🥇 1. Secure Redact (Pimloc)
Overview:
Secure Redact is built specifically for high-volume video and audio redaction, making it a natural fit for police bodycam, CCTV, and dashcam use cases. It detects and blurs sensitive visual data, and also handles audio redaction through AI-powered transcription and named entity recognition.
Key features:
Automatic detection of faces, license plates, and screens
Audio transcription with automatic removal of names, places, and dates
Integrates with video/evidence management systems
Flexible deployment: SaaS, API, cloud or private cloud, partnered with platforms including AWS, Microsoft, NICE, M-View, Eagle Eye Networks, Cisco Meraki, Network Optix, Milestone, and Rhombus.
Why choose them:
High accuracy (>99% PII detection for redaction claimed)
Significant time savings vs manual workflows
Built with law enforcement and public agencies in mind
2. Veritone Redact
Overview:
Veritone Redact provides automated redaction for video, audio, and images, with audit trails for evidential integrity.
Key features:
Detects faces, plates, and objects
Automatic transcription
Audit logs and chain of custody
Why choose them:
Widely used by US public safety agencies
Strong compliance features
3. Foxit Smart Redact
Overview:
Foxit’s Smart Redact is focused on documents and PDFs, making it ideal for redacting sensitive information in case files and legal reports.
Key features:
Automatic PII detection in PDFs
Batch processing
Enterprise-level compliance
Why choose them:
Reliable for document workflows
Fits legal and administrative redaction tasks
4. E-Redact
Overview:
E-Redact is a UK-based software solution designed for GDPR compliance in document redaction.
Key features:
Text and document redaction
GDPR-aligned features
Policy-driven workflows
Why choose them:
Specialist UK provider
Strong for compliance audits
5. DocuShield (Paragon Systems)
Overview:
DocuShield provides GDPR-compliant document redaction for sensitive information in administrative and legal documents.
Key features:
Automated redaction
Dashboards and manual review tools
Enterprise-friendly
Why choose them:
Best suited for document-heavy workflows
Compliance-focused approach
6. Redactor.ai
Overview:
Redactor.ai offers cloud-based AI document and image redaction, useful for bulk processing of administrative data.
Key features:
AI-driven detection
Scalable for high-volume use
Document/image compatibility
Why choose them:
SaaS-friendly
Cost-effective option
7. Super.ai
Overview:
Super.ai focuses on intelligent document processing, including redaction of scanned documents and text.
Key features:
AI-driven document redaction
Bulk workflow handling
Good for back-office and admin workloads
Why choose them:
Handles large volumes of scanned files
Useful in administrative and court workflows
🔍 What to look for in redaction software
Footage vs Documents: Police departments need both - video/audio for bodycam redaction, and documents for case files.
Accuracy & Review Tools: No system is perfect - always choose one with manual editing options.
Compliance: GDPR, FOIA, and evidential requirements must be met.
Deployment Flexibility: Cloud vs on-premise matters for security policies.
Audit Trails: Ensure the tool logs all edits for legal defensibility.
FAQs
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Most tools achieve high accuracy, often above 95–99% for face and plate detection. However, difficult conditions (low light, obstructions, crowds) mean human review is always needed.
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Yes - Secure Redact in particular provides AI transcription and audio redaction, removing names and other identifiers automatically. Others may focus primarily on video or documents.
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Yes, provided the software maintains chain of custody, audit logs, and preserves the original unedited footage. Audit trails are essential for admissibility.
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Some tools are cloud/SaaS only, while others (like Secure Redact) offer private cloud or on-premise deployments to meet strict data handling rules.
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A 10-minute video can take hours to redact manually. Automated solutions process the same footage in near real-time, reducing workloads by over 90%.
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Secure Redact and Veritone stand out as the most video-focused options, with features tailored to bodycams and CCTV. Others like Foxit or E-Redact are better suited for documents and case files.