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Editorial
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EDITORIAL
Single path 4G can be used without any additional network infrastructure •Perfect for new commercial installations where
IT networks are not yet operational •Completely wire-free installations are perfect for remote sites or outbuildings, or where there are no local internet options available
Dual path 4G plus ethernet or WiFi provides best of both worlds •4G backup provides continuity in the event of power failure, local network availability or ISP issues
Fuelling panic
At the time of writing this column the country is in the grips of a fuel buying panic, which in all likelihood will lead to a shortage that would probably not have happened without the media reporting on it in the first place
These days people believe what they want to whether it makes any sense or not. During the week it took to finalise and lay out the pages of this edition some bright spark decided to put the opinion out to the world that BP “may” experience some shortages in fuel stocks due to a lack of tanker drivers. Nobody at that point chose to even question the validity of the claim (which apparently came from a behind closed doors meeting) – no, the mainstream media outlets, who love a crisis, just ran with it.
The good old British public enjoys a bit of a panic, it was only recently that loo rolls were hotter property than gold, so logic was completely ignored and drivers immediately headed to the garage to fill any containers they could so that they has enough fuel to last until Christmas. Those who were genuinely running on fumes had to sit in queues watching others topping up cars that were only destined to sit on driveways.
We shouldn’t really be surprised in these days of social media platforms on which anyone can publish anything to the world, whether it’s true or not. People choose what to believe to the extent that they’ll take the news that “there may be fuel shortages” as gospel, but not believe it when they are told that “there is no need to panic buy”. Plus, we also love to exaggerate; my mum would hear that there was to be snow in the Highlands of Scotland and then tell everyone that there will be blizzards in Birkenhead.
The security industry is also going through a situation at the moment with some insiders telling me that there we are facing potential component shortages that could affect technology manufacturing and also a lack of shipping containers leading to a reduction in import levels. We have heard that the supply chain to UK companies has been hit in regard to chips and lenses, which has lead to stories that some distributors are being “encouraged” by manufacturers to hold more stock in anticipation of a shortfall. Much of the reasoning for the expected supply problems is down to a combination of the impact of Covid and EU paperwork, both factors which will hopefully be reduced as we appear to be moving further away from restrictions.
The fuel and loo roll panic buying shows that by just telling someone that there could be a shortage of something, you can actually create such a shortage, fortunately the security marketeers appears confident that we will see more of a supply stutter than it grinding to a halt, so we must remain positive to avoid being architects of our own demise.
