Why Law Enforcement Needs an Inclusive Investigation Tech Stack
Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by a flood of data—incident reports, LPR hits, surveillance footage, digital tips, CAD/RMS logs, and more. But the core problem isn’t collecting information or even a lack of tools or training—it’s the inability to connect the dots.
Many agencies still rely on outdated, disconnected systems that slow investigations, obscure critical links, and exhaust staff. And the consequences are serious: delayed insights, missed opportunities, mounting burnout—and most devastating of all, justice is delayed for victims and their families.
The Traditional Tech Stack: Good Intentions, Outdated Results
A typical law enforcement tech stack often consists of a mix of Microsoft tools and communication platforms. Here’s how it usually looks:
To add complexity, some agencies spend thousands each year on legacy link analysis software, yet produce only a handful of link charts annually resulting in poor return on investment. These outdated systems require specialized technical expertise and can’t keep up with the speed or scale needed for effective, real-time investigations.
This setup is what we call a non-inclusive data tech stack—tools working in silos, demanding manual data preparation and rework at every step.
The Real-World Impact: Why This Isn’t Just Annoying—It’s Risky
Even with the best intentions, outdated systems and disconnected tools create real risks below for law enforcement teams:
Time drains: Investigators and analysts lose valuable hours manually pulling data from different systems instead of focusing on solving cases.
Missed patterns: Without automated link analysis, it’s easy to overlook connections between repeat offenders or related incidents.
Delayed responsiveness: Critical insights often arrive too late, when evidence has already gone cold or opportunities are missed.
Tech bottlenecks: Non-technical staff have to rely on highly trained tech staff to access or manipulate data, slowing down investigations.
Scaling trouble: As new sources like social media tips, surveillance video, or data from partner agencies come in, teams struggle to manage and process them efficiently.
Modernizing Through an Inclusive, AI-Driven Investigation Systems
Rather than patching together old tech, forward-thinking agencies are shifting to inclusive tech stacks—centralized platforms that empower both tech-savvy and non-technical users while handling varied data seamlessly:
All data types: Supports everything from PDFs and Excel files to body cam footage, LPR logs, and even social media posts—no format left behind.
Multi-source integration: Seamlessly connects with RMS, LPR, CAD, evidence systems, and third-party data sources to ensure up-to-date visibility.
AI-driven link analysis: Automatically uncovers hidden relationships, repeat offenders, and behavioral patterns that manual review often misses.
Native Microsoft support: Works out of the box with MS office suite, Power BI, Outlook, Teams, and SQL server to fit easily into existing IT environments.
Collaborative workspace: Provides a shared platform where analysts, detectives, and command staff can work together efficiently on the same cases.
Customizable workflows: Set up smart alerts, escalations, and task triggers tailored to each role—so everyone gets the right information at the right time.
This unified system serves as a powerful efficiency engine, breaking down data silos—eliminating data overload, removing access barriers, and ending the need to switch between multiple platforms.
One Example: Child Exploitation and AI Link Tools
Canada’s law enforcement agencies streamlined their operations for cyber tips by using Hubstream, a centralized investigation platform that consolidated disparate data sources while prioritizing critical leads, enabling faster case building, and supporting collaboration.
What the Experts Say
“FTI Consulting and Hubstream are collaborating with the NC3 to deploy leading-edge technology that will protect citizens of Canada from cybercrime activities,” said Bruce Benson, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting Inc.
Why It Matters: Efficiency, Visibility, and Justice
Modernizing investigation tech stack isn’t just about technology—it’s about improving outcomes across every level of public safety work. Here’s what that impact looks like:
Optimal Outcomes: Automated data processing speeds up investigations, helping teams respond quickly when every second counts.
Improved threat detection: Connected systems and link analysis expose repeat offenders, criminal networks, and hidden relationships that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Scalable and inclusive: The platform supports multiple roles—analysts, detectives, supervisors—and handles all types of data, from reports to video to social media.
Leadership support: Command staff benefit from unified, real-time dashboards instead of waiting on fragmented updates from different teams or tools.
Public benefit: Faster, smarter investigations lead to quicker resolutions and increased transparency, helping communities stay safer and better informed.
How Hubstream Can Support Your Team
A unified system that seamlessly connects all your tech tools and data sources, allowing information to flow effortlessly and investigations to accelerate.
AI-driven link analysis that automatically uncovers connections—no coding or technical expertise needed.
Native integration with Microsoft tools for easy deployment, ongoing support, and powerful analytics.
Intuitive interface designed for every role, ensuring everyone on your team has easy access.
Because in law enforcement, speed, efficiency and insight save lives. The faster your tools can connect the dots, the quicker justice can be delivered. Today, modern investigation systems are reflections of your team—responding in a timely manner, surfacing hidden insights, and enabling everyone to fight crime smarter.
If your team wants to move away from siloed spreadsheets and yesterday’s tools—reach out to us to schedule a custom demo.