The security week: Consulting, stupid thieves, and hotels

Put on your dancing shoes – it’s The Security Week time!

This week we’ve seen a lot of discussion following the publication of this article on security consulting – advocating the regulation of the profession. A clump of wise and interesting folks have put their virtual oar in – why don’t do the same yourself? After all, you’re strikingly attractive and blessed with a very high IQ. Seriously!

Unlike these thieves. They were caught by wireless motion detectors that had been left on the floor of an office for redecorating purposes. Idiots!

We had a couple of stories that centred on the security of luxury hotels this week – one was a video interview with Andy Sloan, security manager at The Dorchester in London, while the other came from Frost & Sullivan, who claimed that luxury hotel security is a global priority. Classy!

SMT Online editor Brian Sims has weighed in with his views on the ill-fated ID cards scheme, salaries for chief constables, and the remembrance of 7/7, in his SMT Online Editor’s View.

This week’s Song About Security comes courtesy of posh lady Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The story contains a very silly joke.

And here it is: your final chance to take our CCTV End User Survey. If you complete the survey, you’ll be in the running for £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers. That’s nothing to be sneezed at. It isn’t!

Another thing finishing today is the opportunity to enter the 2009 Security Excellence Awards. If you don’t enter it, no one will ever have the chance to discover how excellent you are. And you are excellent.

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

Sailing the good ship security

There’s a swashbuckling feel to I4S today, as Alan Hyder brings us a story about an historic ship being defended by a Cannon – Cannon Security! Hahaha, it’s a good joke! The humour arises due to the expertly engineered confusion between the security company’s name, and that of a piece of military equipment which itself may have been deployed by navy ships in the olden days. See – hilarious!

Also today, SMT Online editor Brian Sims has been brandishing his opinion truncheon, savagely slapping down any dissenters in his SMT Online Editor’s View. Actually, he’s talking about ID cards, Critical National Infrastructure Security, police pay, and 7/7. Forthright!

Elsewhere there’s information on the BSIA’s new Close Protection section (which is very pleasing to say aloud); assignment instructions for security officers; and a networked CCTV custody solution for Kent police from Visimetrics.

In case you’ve never ever heard of it, there’s this CCTV End User Survey thing we’re running. It finishes up tomorrow, and you can win some vouchers, which is excellent news in the CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE. If you win it, you may choose to purchase up to £200 worth of underwear from Marks and Spencer. You don’t have to buy underwear, obviously, but the choice is available.

Another thing finishing tomorrow is the opportunity to enter the Security Excellence Awards 2009. Enter them!

Websites ahoy! www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Bungling thieves, and keyholding responses

If you were a thief, you’d be quite annoyed if you were caught by some detectors that looked like they’d just been chucked on the floor. But that’s exactly what happened to some bungling crims in Leeds, who were caught out by Tag Guard’s IR motion detectors. Bad luck!

Today we’ve also got a response to SMT Online editor Brian Sims‘ recent interview with Securitas Mobile MD Andrew Natt. It comes from NIKARO’s Shaun Cook.

The environment is important. Everyone agrees! It’s why there’s a new Environmental Initiative category in this year’s Security Excellence Awards (entries for which close this Friday, by the way). ADI and Ventcroft have teamed up to provide a green option for their customers – a move which should be applauded. Hoorah!

Elsewhere, Avigilon’s Dave Tynan argues that the future of HD CCTV is in software, not hardware; in India, historical monuments are set to get additional security coverage; and we have a story which is all about lasers. Lasers!

For your final chance to win £200 of Marks and Spencer vouchers, take our CCTV End User Survey. It finishes up this Friday. Get involved.

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

Can security managers stop terrorism?

Today’s spectacular missive filled with security newsology – this very thing here! – leads with an article that asks: Can UK security managers really hope to do anything to stop terrorists? Written by Alan Cain, it’s a thought-provoking and detailed piece.

We’ve also got a story about Paxton providing access control software for unknown football club Manchester United. Let’s hope it brings these plucky underdogs some luck!

There are also new BT Redcare products available; a thermal CCTV installation providing cost savings at a power station; and the biometrics sector signing up for National Occupational Standards.

We’re drawing to a close in our CCTV End User Survey – complete it now for your chance to win 200 smackers (pounds) worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers.

And if you haven’t entered the 2009 Security Excellence Awards, well – don’t be surprised if you are shunned by your colleagues and family once word gets out. I’m just sayin’, is all.

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

The security week: The wild west edition

Yeehar, pardners. It’s time to saddle up etc and mosey or somesuch into The Security Week. Giddy up.

First cowpoke off the rank (I believe this is the correct expression) is London’s Metropolitan Police, who are launching their PREFIT Forum today, to aid in reducing employee theft.

There’s also a bunch of chaps in this company, UKB Security, who are claiming that the recession has actually boosted sales of domestic security gear.

Our new apothecary, the CCTV Doctor Enser, is fixin’ to help folks with his video advice – this time on image resolution.

And our Song About Security this week comes courtesy of wild young gunslinger Jimi Hendrix. If he was wearing spurs he’d probably use them to play his guitar with. Or something.

Taking our CCTV End User Survey is like striking gold on your own claim. If by ‘gold’ you mean ‘the potential to win £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers’.

And winning a Security Excellence Award is like being elected mayor, or sheriff, or some other glamorous role, in a really cool town full of lovely ladies and groovy cowboys and horses and all that other stuff. It’s good.

I’m going to ride off into the lunchtime sunset and start moving house. Enjoy the weekend, hombres.

Go for it!!!! www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

The security week: The fear of gosh edition

Hi there buddies! This is one of those tremendously exciting editions where I pretend that I’m in the office when actually (shh) I’ve got Friday off. Let’s do it!

This week SMT Online editor Brian Sims put the fear of gosh into incoming Home Secretary Alan Johnson in his SMT Online Editor’s View. Careful how you go, Alan!

And Securitas has gone and extended its Approved Contractor Status to cover Northern Ireland. How do you like them apples?

The BSIA has also been talking about Northern Ireland. Here is something about their guide to licensing there. Timely – and stylish!

The Millennium Stadium. Hewn over centuries from the living rock itself. A magical, mystical place. And now it has some new CCTV gear.

You know that CCTV End User Survey we’re running? I think, personally, that if you’re a CCTV end user, you should get involved with it. Not just because you could win £200 of Marks and Spencer vouchers – also because it’s the right thing to do. And you, in particular, are a really decent person.

Have an excellent weekend. Here is some video footage of kittens belonging to a long-time supporter and colleague.

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

Counter fraud, knife crime, and the history of London

The Centre for Counter Fraud Studies could be a place where students are educated about fraudulent calculators, or taking shop staff for a ride. But it’s not. It’s about countering fraud. And it’s open for business.

Today London’s Met police took part in numerous raids as part of its Operation Blunt 2 campaign to cut down on knife crime. We’ve got all the details here.

And speaking of London, which I just was, Vicon has put in some CCTV equipment at the UK capital’s very own Museum. It’s the sort of thing that’d make Peter Ackroyd proud.

We all like rags to riches tales – it’s why Roman Abramovich is so popular after all. Here’s a security specific one: the tale of the apprentice who is now the MD. It’s good fun for all the family!

I may have mentioned this before, but it still holds true: take our CCTV End User Survey. It’s useful, and you could win £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers! Super.

For goodness’ sake: www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Biometrics over 3G, and charitable action

And good day to you, sir. (Or madam. We certainly don’t mind!) Welcome to the info4security Daily Digest. It’s a pleasure to have you on board.

First things first: if you’re a CCTV end user, I’d be ever so grateful if you would take part in our CCTV End User Survey, in conjunction with CCTV In Focus. Not only will you be providing valuable information, you’ll also be in the running to win £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers. Bargain!

In other news, today we bring you the heartwarming tale of the biometric access system controlled by VPN over a 3G network. It’s what dreams are made of!

There’s also the news of Securitas extending its ACS accreditation to cover Northern Ireland. It’s a first!

In worthwhile and benevolent news, the Bobby Moore Fund is the official charity for the 2009 Security Excellence Awards; and Annora, delightful lady wife of SMT Online editor Brian Sims, has completed the Race For Life for Cancer Research UK. Nice work!

Well alright: www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

The security week: Win stuff by completing our survey!

Are you a CCTV end user? Do you know any CCTV end users? Would you or they or either of your loved ones fancy upping the ante by winning £200 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers? You/they would? Well – I’d be delighted if you or they took part in our CCTV End User Survey, which we are running in conjunction with CCTV In Focus. It takes almost no time to complete, and your responses will allow us to report thoroughly on the end user experience. Useful!

This week, in news to warm the cockles of Joanna Lumley’s heart, we reported on the G4S Gurkha Services and their work in protecting a fancy greenhouse. Run along and read it, y’hear? Then sate your appetite for G4S stories by finding out about all the summer events they are protecting.

Also: Security Installer editor Alan Hyder pulled up in his metaphorical analysis truck, connected his enormous opinion hose, and sprayed commentary all over the blazing security issues of the week, in his SI Editor’s View. Insightful!

Do you like videos of people smacking and bashing door entry systems? The people at Paxton Access do – we’ve got footage of a man doing just that in this very story.

This week’s Song About Security comes from The Police. Feel free to bounce and groove along with it.

Are you interested in romance and adventure? Yes? Then you may be interested in the glamorous Bond Museum in Cumbria, which celebrates all things James Bond and is protected by Chubb. Nice!

Ta-da! www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk