RiskXtraJune2019

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RISKXtra
BSIA Briefing
their property. For its part, the security industry
is now starting to talk about the use of Artificial
Intelligence as the solution for improving
security and reducing false alarms. As this
technology develops, there could be significant
improvements in terms of operatives only
needing to respond to genuine alarm
activations, making these systems even more of
a deterrent and helping to reduce crime.”
What about larger venues?
How do the management teams for larger
venues and open spaces deter crime? James
Walker, managing director of Dallmeier UK, has
mentioned the use of a sophisticated
surveillance system for larger venues and
stadiums to ensure the safety of fans at all
times. Unchecked crowds or brawls between
spectators seem to be the most feared
scenarios for on-duty security personnel.
“With today’s multifocal sensor systems, a
huge area can be monitored from a single
location extremely efficiently,” observed
Walker. “The most impressive aspect of these
systems is that they combine the overall view
with simultaneous top detail resolution. Even
more distant objects are displayed with the
same resolution as objects in the foreground of
the picture.”
Walker went on to add: “Further, these
systems solve the well-known problem with
PTZ cameras whereby the operator has to
choose between an overview image and a
detailed view. It doesn’t matter which section
of a surveillance area an operator focuses on at
any time as the system always records the
entire scene. Therefore, it’s possible to
reconstruct any event for later use as evidence
in court, regardless of where that occurrence
took place, and to recognise all individuals
involved thanks to frame-by-frame playback.”
Gideon Reichental (commercial sales
manager at Clearway Services, the specialist in
site security, and current chairman of the
Vacant Property Section of the BSIA) explained:
“Open spaces such as construction sites, car
parks, sports grounds or leisure areas are a real
temptation for criminal or anti-social behaviour.
Statistics show that at least one-in-five building
sites are hit as frequently as once every week,
and possibly even more than that as minor
incidents are often not reported.”
However, Reichental is swift to point out that
it isn’t difficult to secure such locations.
“Where appropriate, proper secure fencing is a
‘must’. Temporary concrete blocks can be
installed at site access points if it’s a vacant
property. This will prevent unauthorised ingress
and theft or fly-tipping, which is now a major
menace. A wireless alarm system can be fitted
to the fencing and advanced temporary CCTV
camera towers located at key points.”
Running off mains or solar power and
engineered to remain outside in all conditions,
CCTV camera towers communicate via the
mobile network. These installations are the end
user’s remote eyes, surveying an entire site
thanks to movement-activated HD cameras.
When triggered, they issue voice warnings to
trespassers so they know they’ve been spotted
if they’ve managed to break in or are simply
causing mischief. They’re a great deterrent.
Activation and live video can be beamed back
to an Alarm Receiving Centre whose trained
operators will, in turn, raise an alarm, send a
security guarding patrol and/or contact the
police to apprehend the intruders if the audio
warnings should be ignored.
In the real world
A final scenario relating to this subject involves
a real-life Case Study. One of the fastestgrowing
districts in the upper Midwest of the
United States, Harrisburg in South Dakota is
home to an educational system that serves
almost 4,000 students across eight schools.
Gallagher Security was selected to meet the
district’s security requirements and, in October
2015, those security measures were put to the
test when the local High School became the
target of a shooting incident.
Although one staff member was injured in the
episode, it was prevented from escalating
further due to Gallagher’s lockdown procedure
being activated by members of staff. From the
time the emergency button was pressed, it took
just four seconds for Command Centre to lock
all outside doors, notify the district authorities
and limit building access to emergency
responders only. “Command Centre was directly
involved with placing physical barriers between
an active gunman and hundreds of High School
students,” explained James Straatmeyer, CEO of
Integrated Technology & Security.
“The security industry is now starting to talk about the use of AI as the
solution for improving security and reducing false alarms. As this
technology develops, there could be significant improvements in terms
of operatives only needing to respond to genuine alarm activations”
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