SECURITY IN ACTION
THE PROS VERSUS THE CONS
Next-level crime prevention Fact: Where there are crowds there are risks. And while security guards can monitor and patrol an area, it isn’t always possible for them to see everything at once or recall events with one hundred per cent accuracy. Marco Della Peruta, head of technical services at Sensor Security, takes a closer look at how physical security and technology can come together to provide realtime reaction services, proactive strategies, objective reporting and the collection of evidence.
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arco starts by providing some context. “Kevin Ashton, who is regarded as the founder of the Internet of Things (IoT), once said that people have limited time, attention and accuracy – all of which means they are not good at capturing data about things in the real world.” Marco continues: “This is by no means a slur on the security or policing industry. It is merely an observation on our limitations as human beings.”
Fact Over Fiction What exactly happened? Marco explains that this is often the first question that gets asked when a high value premises is burgled or there’s an altercation between civilians and security. But recall of a crisis is vulnerable to individual perception. This makes criminal collusion, hijackings, or incidences of inaccurate finger pointing difficult to investigate and prosecute. This is where physical security and technology can work together to provide accurate incident data and a strong chain of evidence.
TYPICAL APPLICATION
GLOBAL POSTIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
Body Worn Cameras “The field of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), as a technology and a product, has many different brands and models,” Marco says. “While we are not advocating one brand or model over another, we will advise that when investigating and considering a BWC, the support and compliancy of the equipment and the manufacturer are areas that must be critically considered. “After all, when it comes to the safety of society, one should not compromise on cheaper non-scalable gadgets.” Marco recommends the DS-MH2111 body worn camera from Hikvision. “In its basic form it has a 1080p resolution camera for recording at 60fps and a snapshot capability of 16Mp. The high speed record capability is a vital attribute for fast moving crimes. Pick pockets, casino scams and con artists depend on diversion and speed.” He continues: “The elegance of the DSMH2111 is that the recorded footage can be reviewed in slow motion and it retains a smooth flowing video sequence.” He goes on to add that other product benefits include built in IR illumination for night operation and IP67 level of protection from liquids. The more advanced functions consist of GPS for accurate positioning and 3G and WI-FI for communication with a professional software for interaction on SOS, video and audio.
Location, location, location NETWORK
MONITORING CENTER
ONSITE VIDEO
3G AND WIFI
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FIREWALL
MOBILE APP
GPS positioning is a key element in geolocating pictures as well as locating the device itself. Marco continues: “As the BWC moves – its position is always noted. This means that the location of the wearer is trackable on the live mapping module in the CMS software. This applies naturally to slow motions such as walking, and faster motions such as a vehicle, to ensure accuracy of video with respect to location.” Additional DS-MH2111 features include a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers up
SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA | MARCH 2017
to eight hours recording time at a wide 125 degree FOV (field of view) angle and a 32G sized storage card. Password protection – and the ability to allocate a device to a particular individual on a shift – all of which aid in creating an evidence trail.
Objectivity and Support Marco’s focus turns to the guards. “Going back to the point of objectivity in the security industry, the beauty of a device like a BWC that ‘talks’ to a manned control room, is that it links the guard to a support structure. “Situations can easily escalate into a state of action, which may need assistance or guidance. The two-way audio of the device, matched with the streaming video capability, allows for verbal and visual interaction in the heat of the moment. This third party objectivity can minimise risk of injury. “What’s more,” he continues, “in general scenarios, a patrol guard can’t be expected to note all situations. “The MH2111’s ability to store video indicates that at a later stage in time, the video can be reviewed as a historical record for comparison purposes of un-noticed changes on a site. “The security personnel will also feel reassured knowing there is corroborating evidence to support what they encountered.”
One Device. Many Eyes Security is not limited to site patrols, but it includes the safety and the prevention of crimes too. “Take shopping centres, casinos or concert venues for example, the challenges here can range from fraudulent accident reports, vagrancy, shoplifting, by-law infringement to brawling and pickpockets.” Marco adds, “Because the Hikvision BWC can stream live video to a control room, multiple eyes can observe and search for indicators as the security guard moves through key areas.”