The security week: Elections, explosions, and volcanoes

Hi there, buddy. The UK general election is fast approaching – it’s like the X Factor for politicians – and we’re continuing our coverage with this piece of CIPD analysis on the economic policies of the main parties. Topical.

Here at I4S we’re big fans of explosions – but only those carried out under carefully controlled conditions, of course. So we couldn’t resist these videos from Wrightstyle, pitting 500kg of TNT against its security glass. You should watch them.

A couple of studies were released this week – one claims that China’s security sector is beginning to make the move to IP; the other says integrators are focusing increasingly on ‘analysis and design’ of security systems. Fascinating.

We also featured the full award-winning essay by Irfan Pandor, who took out the graduate prize in the 2009 ASIS Student Writing Competition. It’s called ‘Leveraging low-cost/low-tech solutions for contemporary security challenges’. Download it here for free.

That volcano in Iceland has been in the news quite a bit recently, huh? Here’s a story about the way it affected some Axis Communications folks. Have a read – and let us know if your travel plans have been disrupted.

Each week, IFSEC 2010 seems to get a little closer. That’s due to the passage of time. And this week, we added a bunch more show preview coverage to the site. There’s information on Synectics, Raytec, Deister, APT, FAAC, Kentec, TDSi, Veracity, and Vicon. And Axxon is offering visitors to its stand the chance to win a VIP Grand Prix package. Details are here.

This week’s Song About Security is the classic Mack the Knife. We’ve opted for the Bobby Darin version. It’s about the scourge of knife crime.

Make sure you head over to Jobs for Security for all the latest security jobs – and to advertise your own vacancies.

For real-time news updates, follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/info4security and twitter.com/smtonlineeditor. And get more up to the minute news via our RSS feed.

This is a video of an octopus making off with a man’s camera as he films underwater.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

The security week: Profiles, images, and Scottish ninjas

Howdy.

I come to you today in slightly jetlagged state, having been in Japan for the world premiere of Panasonic’s SmartHD concept and product range. I know, poor me. A full report on that will follow next week, but for now, let’s have a bit of a gander at this week’s highlights, shall we? OK, go.

As usual, intrepid SMT Online editor Brian Sims has been busy. He brought us his regular SMT Online Editor’s View column, which this time around focused on the Scottish Business Crime Centre’s parliamentary reception in Edinburgh, and the effective partnerships in security in that part of the world.

Brian also delivered an in-depth, two-part profile of Securitas MD Geoff Zeidler – part one is here, and part two here – as well as a video item from Cougar Monitoring, which has something to do with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Intrigued? Click here and find out more.

Our regular IP and networking advice column, The Networker, from Phil Doyle of Axis, returned with a focus on image quality, and the difference between HD and megapixel.

The BSIA has published a guide to help employers understand their responsibilities towards lone workers; Peter French looks at salaries in 2010; and Magenta Security is doing its bit to help train its employees.

Rapiscan has sold some of its body scanners to be used at Nigerian airports. No word yet on whether there are concerns about potential nudiness.

One of our regular features is Songs About Security, where we show a music video for a song that has some kind of vague, tenuous link to the security business. This week, hand-selected by new I4S colleague Amy Rowe, is Mark Knopfler’s harrowing tale of his time as a gritty gumshoe: Private Investigations.

And in the same spirit, over on our I4S India channel, there’s a story about Topsgrup providing ‘customised pre-marital investigation services.’ Classy.

Not really connected to anything in particular, here’s a video of a puppy attempting to sleep on some stairs. Enjoy.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Thursday is surveillance day

A big day of news here at info4security – with a focus on surveillance. Intriguing.

Firstly, we’ve got our report on the UK’s Home Office establishing a National CCTV Oversight Body. What does this mean, and how will it affect you? Brian Sims has the details. We’ve also got the reaction from the BSIA’s Pauline Norstrom.

There’s also a new report into the CCTV market in 2009. It wasn’t great, apparently. Read all the gloomy news here.

Elsewhere in the CCTV sphere, the University of Leeds has opened its new control room; Phil Doyle of Axis Communications discusses outdoor surveillance; Lancroft has integrated CCTV and access control in a London IP installation; and Samsung Techwin have released a new dome camera.

This is the last Daily Digest for 2009 – tomorrow’s Weekly Digest will be our final newsletter of the year. It’s been a pleasure nestling in your inbox. There will be some changes to our newsletter output in the early part of next year – watch this space for further details.

Adios.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Meteors and cyclists

Greetings, security newsmates. It’s Monday afternoon, and thus time for your regular dose of security news excitement. Here goes!

CCTV has been in the news in South Africa – catching a meteor lighting up the sky above Gauteng (and, if we’re being honest, probably some other places as well). Have a look at it here.

AP Security have been busy this year – and their work at Glastonbury has been one of our most read stories – and now we’ve got another thing about what they did for the Tour of Britain. Cycling!

There’s also an IP distribution deal for EMEA between ADI and Pelco; a big RFID deal in Germany; Flir thermal cameras to be distributed by Videor in the UK; and a big chunk of extra recording capacity for a Samsung Techwin DVR. Bulging!

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Terminal 5, Northern Ireland, and vehicles

Today we’ve continued on our air travel theme – with yesterday’s Luton airport and aeroplane classroom stories leading the way – with a piece on CEM’s IP access equipment in use at Heathrow’s much-loved Terminal 5. Jet-setting!

We’ve also got an article on Mercury Security Management, a company gearing up for SIA-licensing in Northern Ireland by obtaining Approved Contractor Status. Keeping it regulated.

Apparently vehicle ID thefts are on the rise. Is someone impersonating your car? That sounds completely insane to me.

Also today, we’ve got a new Mirasys UK MD; some sporting access from Salto; and a new mid-priced anti-vandal dome from Samsung Techwin.

Well, that’s all absolutely splendid.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

ID card images, and MoD jobs

Hello! Welcome to a big day of security news excitement. Let’s dig in.

First up is the images of the somewhat reviled UK ID cards, which have been unveiled by Home Secretary Alan Johnson. Will anyone ever actually use one?

We’ve also got a very interesting piece on how to go about getting work from the UK’s Ministry of Defence if you are a guarding company. And let’s face it, so many of us are nowadays. Possibly.

Things that move can often be useful. That’s one reason why TSS is putting CCTV in car wing mirrors. Others are outlined in the article. So feel free to read that.

Elsewhere, we’ve got an Indian appointment for ADT Security; some information destruction standards exhilaration; and pay-as-you-go home IP security. Delightful!

You have precisely one day left in which to vote for the Security Manufacturer of the Year as part of the 2009 Security Excellence Awards. It’s one way to make your favourite stand out from the crowd.

Also, here’s a weird man blowing a raspberry on a cat’s stomach.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Luxury hotel security, and a fake licence

Hi! Your missive is short and sweet today, like a sugar-coated pygmy marmoset. So let’s begin.

First up is a video interview with Andy Sloan. He’s the security and risk manager at The Dorchester hotel in London, which has recently had an upgrade involving kit from Milestone, Axis, ACTi, and Cisco, designed and installed by TM Security. They took me to a suite which costs £14,000 a night. It was such a ridiculous price that we moved to the basement for the interview.

Elsewhere today, there’s the tale of the doorman with a fake licence; some French casino IP excitement; a rail test for a hybrid recorder; and a website relaunch for eneo.

Take part in both our CCTV End User Survey, and the 2009 Security Excellence Awards. They both close for entries this Friday. Hurry!

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Policing, opinion, and Supertron

We’re in the midst of what might be the entirety of the UK summer this week, and despite having a little time off, tireless Security Installer editor Alan Hyder has submitted his SI Editor’s View column. This time he’s talking about family business, weak and strong security companies, and ID cards for school kids. What a guy!

Alan’s counterpart on the security management side, SMT Online editor Brian Sims, today looks at the Home Affairs Select Committee report into police tactics at April’s G20 protests. He’s also been to the Annual Luncheon of the Association of Security Consultants. Here’s his report.

Also today there’s Mike Lynsky of the NSI on the driving habits of engineers; James Passingham on open source IP network security; and David Ting on the dangers posed to organisations by employee data theft – particularly during the recession.

Excellently, we have a story on our I4S India channel about a company called Supertron. Nothing to do with this guy, apparently.

Go on then: take our CCTV End User Survey. And enter the Security Excellence Awards. Persons of great standing and authority inform me that you need to be ‘in it‘ to ‘win it‘.

So worth your while, man: www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Exciting truck crash video!

Today, I’m pleased to announce, we feature a video of a truck crashing into a thing – at high speed! Yep, it’s true. The thing is an ATG Access bollard. Find out how the truck fared by looking at the story and video…

Cooperation’s a lovely thing. So it was splendid to read today that the PSIA, which is just trying to help IP media devices to get along, has released its API specification for public use. How nice!

Here is a moving story: CCTV distributor Security Solutions is relocating its South London branch.

In these uncertain economic times, it’s good to know that some positives can be found. In a sense. A Plimsoll report suggests that the time is ripe to acquire security installation companies. Bold!

Hey, I’ve heard there’s a conference going on at IFSEC 2009 in May! Allegedly it is called the IFSEC Conference 2009. Which makes sense, I guess. Anyone fancy going? You should. It would improve your public standing and enhance your credibility. Also, it’s a valuable learning opportunity. Yes indeedy!

Ahem: www.info4security.com, and www.ifsec.co.uk.

Knife crime, access action, and the Queen’s panel

We’ve jumped out of the blocks at startling and impressive speed this week here at I4S, with security news stories straining every sinew to get to your computer in world record time. We’ll let you know about the results of any post-race testing.

Steve Collins is in fine form today. The weapons-related criminality expert says it’s time adequate training was given to security officers to help them deal with knife crime.

We reported a little while ago that Pelco was leaving the access control business. Now they’ve gone and sold their Intelli-M access business to Infinias. There’s the exit!

Fire panel company Kentec has gone all posh and fancy. They’ve got a Royal Warrant from the Queen. It’s the panel she insists on installing herself, apparently.

Meanwhile, Honeywell has signed an agreement with Computerlinks to distribute its IP security products in the UK and Ireland; and the BSIA has kindly provided us with another of its regular news round-ups.

Make sure you visit our new, dedicated Indian security channel, I4S India. Today there’s an article on tackling terrorism on the railways.

Then go ahead and book yourself a place at the IFSEC Conference 2009. If you’re not there, there is a slight chance that you will fall into a deep depression that will preclude your involvement in any joyful or celebratory moments in the lives of your friends, family and colleagues, due to your unpopular and anti-social moroseness. A slight chance!

Whatsamatter you? Eh? www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk. Hey!