Notes from Norstrom

 SourceSecurity.com, the leading pan European portal and promotional medium serving the security industry has joined industry heavyweights Dedicated Micros, HID, iPix, DSC, and Johnson Controls to become a corporate sponsor of ISC West, the largest security show in North America, at Las Vegas 5 - 7 April 2006. Launched in 2000, SourceSecurity.com has become the fastest growing medium in the security industry, boasting more than 25,000 users from across the UK, continental Europe and th...

Biometrics help secure airports around the world, but the protection doesn’t stop there.  Nathan Cummings explores the application of Biometrics further. Travel to the United States, and chances are good that at the gate, you’ll be greeted by a machine rather than a person. Like a customs agent reading a passport, these machines use physical features to confirm that you really are who you claim to be – except that unlike a person, they can’t be fooled, bribed or caj...

Texas A&M University is a land grant, sea-grant and space-grant institution located at college Station, Texas.  The university's enrolment numbers approximately 44,000 students studying for degrees in 10 academic colleges.  The school has a 5,200-acre campus among the largest in he nation with more than 100 buildings, a 324-acre research park and a campus value exceeding $1 billion. The Challenge For any university creating a safe environment, around the clock, for student...

Park Avenue Bank standardizes on March Networks TechnologyThe vast improvement in the quality of evidence obtained from digital video recording (DVR) systems is helping security executives in the banking sector resolve more and more incidents of fraud and theft.  Equally significant, says Larry Hale, assistant vice president of Park Avenue Bank, is the dramatic improvement in the speed of retrieving video evidence."Now, it's just a matter of typing in the date and time and selecting a...

Gallagher PowerFence™ systems provide a complete deter and detect solution 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The fence secures a remote section of the perimeter that is not so easily seen from the guard towers.Perimeter Solutions for CorrectionsCorrectional Institutes are challenged to protect the public, protect their staff, and ensure a safe, secure and humane environment for offenders.  Gallagher PowerFence™ systems provide the perimeter solution to meet these requirements wi...

The view that ‘dodgy' guard people will be on the way out and prices will rise for guard providers is rose-tinted, according to Douglas Greenwell, Marketing Director, of G4S Security Services (UK).  He spoke of his firm putting through price increases of about two per cent, to recover from licensing, and meeting some resistance from customers.  He said: "That's to reinforce the message - the only way prices are going to go up, or the only way we are going to improve our returns,...

ADI, a leading low voltage and security distributor, today announced its parent, Honeywell would acquire Gardiner Groupe Europe from Electra Partners Europe, a private equity firm, to strengthen ADI’s scope in security distribution throughout Europe.  The company anticipates completing the transaction in the first half of 2006, subject to regulatory review.Gardiner Groupe Europe, with their headquarters based in Paris, France is a leading distributor of CCTV systems, fire alarm,...

HID, the premier manufacturer of contactless access control cards and readers for the security industry, today announced that Frankie Man has been promoted to sales director for the Asia Pacific region, reporting to Lester Doig, managing director of HID Asia Pacific Limited.  In his new position, Mr. Man will be responsible for expanding HID's market share and increasing the company's sales network in Asia Pacific.  By working with HID customers at all levels, Mr. Man and his t...

Biometrics help secure airports around the world, but the protection doesn’t stop there. Nathan Cummings explores the application of Biometrics further.Travel to the United States, and chances are good that at the gate, you’ll be greeted by a machine rather than a person. Like a customs agent reading a passport, these machines use physical features to confirm that you really are who you claim to be – except that unlike a person, they can’t be fooled, bribed or cajoled. Th...

Enhanced security in our nation's schools presents a set of challenges DVTeI is very familiar with: DVTel has more than 20 advanced network video installations at the high school and university level- Columbine and other violent school incidents changed everything.  No longer ran a Superintendent or Principal be content with a few cameras recording to outdated VCR technology.  The good news is that most school districts have IT or other personnel who are Familiar with lP network techno...

In recent years a spate of high profile attacks by ever more ruthless criminal gangs in both urban and county areas across Britain, including the £1 million robbery at the UK residence of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, former footballer Mark Fish who was tied-up and threatened by four masked intruders and the fatal stabbing of a leading city financier in his London home, serve to underline the vulnerability of high net worth individuals and their property to criminal attack. Sadly, many ho...

When 4.2 million customers rely on you to fulfil more than 1 billion shipments every year, you had better ensure that your security is the best.  The solution for DHL Solutions Örebro warehouse in Sweden was a unique system that fully integrates intruder alarms, access control and fire warning systems, not to mention personal attack alarms and environmental functions such as lighting.  Further integration of a video surveillance system using more than 120 cameras brings the Ö...

In the day and age of terrorism and high crime, facilities of all kinds are taking drastic security measures to protect their employees and the public.  Whether an office building, staff room, or manufacturing plant, precautions are taken to keep out unwanted guests and track those who have access.  City hospitals fall high on the list of facilities that need to take extra precautions with their security.  Liberty Health encompasses three hospitals in eastern New Jersey, U.S.A:&nb...

Restaurant chain's DVR systems keep profits from disappearingSmothered in one of 14 signature sauces from Asian Zing to Mango Habanero, and served up "Smilin', Sizzlin' or Screamin'," Buffalo Wild Wings are a popular American treat.  Meaty, tender and packed with flavour, they are a specialty of the house at 400 Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar restaurants across the U.S.For franchisees, wings and profits are one and the same, so making sure they don't fly out the back door makes...

Against the backdrop of the prolific uptake of digital video recording by the CCTV industry, there is a pressing need for definitive guidance where digital images are being used for evidential purposes.  The reality is that digital video evidence is different, a difference which, if handled correctly, can deliver positive benefits.  For the criminal justice system, the police, and end users this requires a change of approach, as images have to be taken off the hard drive of a unit, whe...

Leading Global security publication, A&S International magazine, selects Nextiva for its breakthrough innovation and category leadershipVerint Systems Inc., a leading provider of analytic software-based solutions for communications interception, networked video security and business intelligence, today announced that A&S International Magazine has named Verint’s Nextiva video management and analytics solution as a Prime Product of the Year award winner for 2005.  A&S Inter...

Northamptonshire is the model for joined-up work on business crime, the launch event for the county-wide business crime reduction partnership heard. Introducing Northamptonshire Action Against Business Crime was Sir David O’Dowd, the former Northants chief constable who agreed to be patron of NAABC.  Sir David pointed to the December issue of Professional Security regarding the latest British Retail Consortium crime survey.  He described NAABC as the next evolutionary step in th...

What might police modernisation mean for private security companies and consultancies?  Alan Beckley, director, Baddiley Associates, offers some pointers. Greater inclusion in the ‘extended family of policing’ Need to form new relationships based on new police structure Need to understand new boundaries and new responsibilities Vigilance to spot new opportunities and police tasks, roles and responsibilities that fall off the list of police priorities Vig...

Show caution when making choices in CCTV, advise the authors of the latest good practice guide from The Security Institute (TSI). Gordon Tyerman, the former Surrey Police CCTV manager, now a trainer, chaired the working party behind the guide to acquiring, deployment and use of CCTV.  Introducing the 82-page paperback - cost £25, free to TSI members - Gordon Tyerman said:  “There are hundreds of choices within the CCTV world and many people willing to help and advise you;...

The recent UK launching of the ADI Expo - by ADI International, the Honeywell-owned distributor of security products - was an occasion to talk to Mike Reddington, UK MD, to ask where the distributor is and where it is going. Briefly, something about Mike Reddington: qualified as an electronics engineer, he progressed in field sales, becoming UK sales manager at Racal Guardall.  He then joined Gardiner Technology as business development manager, and became sales director; and sales and mark...

The planning and thinking for the 2012 Olympics is well under way - but there are plenty of big events to secure first, the International Sports Security Summit (ISSS) heard in London recently.  Mark Rowe reports. Day one saw Olympics speakers to the fore - Peter Ryan, the British former senior police officer who as chief of New South Wales police was in charge of security at the 2000 summer games; and Met Chief Insp Andrew Amery, head of security for London 2012.  Police were al...

The Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales was the host course to the recent All*Star Cup celebrity golf championship. It's to host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The resort is thought to be the single largest private investment ever in the British hospitality industry.  Visual surveillance is a key management tool.  Security was to the fore during the All Star Cup over the August 2005 Bank Holiday weekend, when stars of sport and show business competed in a USA versus Europe Matchplay tournament...

Procurement is a way to cut out IT security flaws, the annual SANS top 20 vulnerabilities launch heard in London.   The event made the front page of the Financial Times on the day of the launch at the Department for Trade and Industry, this shows that business takes IT security seriously.  In the FT, SANS director of research Alan Paller warned that it is easy for hackers to steal information from back-up systems. "Rarely does back-up software have encryption.  Whereas M...

Honeywell today announced the appointment of Andrew Bull as UK sales director for Honeywell Video Systems (part of Honeywell Systems Group).  Based at the Runcorn office, Andrew is responsible for UK video product sales, working closely with dealers, consultants, specifiers and end users.  He heads up a six person sales team and reports to Joe Janick, sales director, Honeywell Systems Group EMEA.Andrew joined Honeywell as part of the Novar acquisition last year, where he was business d...

The venue for a recent business crime conference was an example of good practice, the event heard.   Bob Golding, Warwickshire Police Assistant Chief Constable and ACPO lead on business crime, was among speakers at the Belfry golf club.  Welcoming the audience to Warwickshire, ACC Golding said he hoped that their cars would not be broken into.  Such crime at the club near Birmingham - thieves breaking into cars to take laptops, on view on back seats - is no longer a hot-spot...

As the great and good of the Security and BMS markets converged on Stoneleigh Park last week (Jan 24 – 26) one thing was clear – IP is here to stay.More than 100 Exhibiting, supporting companies and organisations gathered to demonstrate their wears to thousands of knowledge hungry visitors who had travelled from across the globe to acquaint themselves with the latest in cutting edge security technology."at the IIPSEC show this year, innovation was definitely the theme and a clea...

In today's ever more litigious society, some less than reputable individuals seem to take the view that this is a license for them to make fraudulent personal injury claims. However what many fail to appreciate is that more and more businesses have some sort of CCTV system in place to record such incidents, allowing concrete evidence to be presented which can see unscrupulous claims thrown out of court. One of the most blatant examples, I have heard of, concerned two women, a mother and daughter...

ACTi's SED-2100R and Milestone's XProtect Software successfully help Puopolo Smallgoods, the meat processing factory, to convert their surveillance system from analogue to IP. Puopolo Smallgoods is a meat-processing factory in Victoria, Australia.  The main purposes for Puopolo Smallgoods to initially setup the analogue surveillance system were to record the production process, prevent the accidents, and to strengthen the security. However, as time goes by, Puopolo Smallgoods has now e...

Action Against Business Crime partnership conference Crime against business is an ongoing battle for all affected – retailers, police, and local authority community safety managers alike.  Businesses are working in partnership to tackle and manage crime more effectively – but they can’t do it alone.  So say the organisers of the AABC conference, on February 22 at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC Birmingham. The event begins after an introduction by chairman for th...

HBoS has just completed upgrading their security at their sites in Halifax and Chester with help from Fastlane from Integrated Design Limited.  Following the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland in 2001, HBoS is the UK’s largest mortgage and savings provider. The management at HBoS wanted to create a secure workplace by limiting access to the building to authorised staff and visitors. As such an access control system and turnstiles were required. Due to the nature of the building t...