CCTV products and installations are closely related. If the products of a closed circuit television is of bad quality then the installation can not make the system a success. Likewise if you have excellent products but the installation team does not know what they are doing, then the system will be seen as a failure.  This is why Skyvision recommends that you get an experienced company to take care of you CCTV installation.

Skyvision also encourages the testing of all products before installation. According to their experience there is always a chance that the products will be faulty and therefore testing is vital. Installation of faulty products is timely and costly and unprofessional. Skyvision also says that in order to optimise the installation and product results, a clear purpose for the system needs to be defined. This will enable the company to choose the right product and installation methods and it will enable the client to receive maximum benefits from the system. For more information regarding CCTV products and installations go to Skyvision.

CCTV installation will be a very successful step in securing your area of work or home. There is nothing as stressful as leaving your greatest asset unattended, be it your business or home, and not securing the area from any intruders or threats. CCTV allows you to have that peace of mind. There are a few things that are very important to consider when installing a CCTV.

The first thing that should always be at the forefront of your mind is the goal that you are trying to achieve. This means that you need to know what it is that needs to be monitored, what the range is and whether it will be for daytime or night time.  The other point that will determine your goal is the extent of the security that you need. It is vital that this goal is clearly defined and understood in order to make the most of you CCTV. It is also of great importance that the recording be kept safe, because often thieves will take the recordings to avoid them being identified, so always secure you recordings. For more information on CCTV Installation go to Skyvision.

CCTV installations can have many benefits for your business over a long period of time. Installation of CCTV will give you the great advantage of being able to monitor a large area that is impossible to cover. CCTV installations can be very helpful for saving money. CCTV has the great advantages of being able to capture information in high detail if you so choose. Cameras come in all shapes and sizes with different features and benefits. Finding the right camera for you business is essential for the smooth running of your security system.

Some camera’s are colour  recorders and others are not, some are ideal for night monitoring while others are more suited to day monitoring.  You will also have to decide how well you need to be able to follow people and how much detail you want the camera to be able to recognise. CCTV installation has to be done by professionals who know what they are doing and who have the relevant experience in the business. They should be able to advise you on the specific customised system that would be ideal for your business and your premises.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is such a helpful tool in terms of securing your business area. CCTV’s help by enabling you to monitor a vast area, from one room called the control room. Installing cameras in places throughout the area that you wish to control does this. These cameras then send the images of people movements, activities around a valuable asset and behaviour of people within the property.

Monitoring of these will enable you to perform solid security activities, as you will be able to see any misconduct and act on it. The other great advantage of using closed-circuit television, is that you have record of events which means that you have the required proof if necessary to persecute or prove innocent. There is also a tool that is very useful, called Video Content Analysis (VCA). VCA helps you to capture events in high detail with high definition colour enriched cameras. Using closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) will benefit you in terms of safety and security. For customised CCTV installations go to contact skyvision at Sky Vision Corp.

There are currently no legislation or internal policy preventing police members in unmarked police vehicles to pull over members of the public. There are some serious critics to this tendancy/action and with some justification if the number of police impersonating incidents are taken into consideration.
The current crime rate in South Africa is indicative of this opinion as it is a popular thought that only police officials in  marked police vehicles should be allowed to pull people over as this will protect the public against potential hi-jackers and criminals and draw a clear line when or when not to stop. Current South African law stipulates that a person must stop when being apprehended by a member of the police irrespective the current identification markings on a police vehicle. The law only stipulates that the Officer must identify him/herself when apprehending a person.

Opinion of Dr Johan Burger, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies:
Due to the current crime climate, police should be forced to issue an order stating that officials in unmarked vehicles were not allowed to pull people over.
 
Burger referred to countless incidents where criminals pretended to be police members and then robbed or hijacked people.

“This order should be made public, so the public is aware of it.

“Where people are stopped by police in a marked police vehicle, it is highly likely that they are real police officials,” said Burger.

Drive to a safe place

His advice to a motorist who wasn’t sure if it really was the police, was to drive calmly to a place like a shop or a petrol station, where there were people and it was safe.

“A dangerous thing to do, is to race off. That could serve as justification for police to shoot.”

National police spokesperson, Director Phuti Setati said if police in a vehicle with a fixed blue light wanted to pull a car over, people should rather stop.

Setati acknowledged that there had been cases where criminals pretended to be police officers, but said these were “very, very rare”.

“The police are allowed to pull you over to warn you about danger farther ahead, or to warn you about a criminal ambush.

“When you’re not completely sure, motion with your hands that the police should follow you, while you phone 10111.”
“You should then explain that you suspect you’re being followed by a vehicle with blue lights on that specific road. Police officials in the area will come to your location,” said Setati.

It is strongly advised to have all emergency telephone numbers including 10111 on your cell phone which should assist you during times of panick and/or duress.

Here are a couple of ideas and tips for CCTV installations:

1) Keep the goal of the system in mind in everything you do. What must be monitored? What is the range? Is it daylight or night time? How secure must the system be? The goal of the system must be clearly defined for an effective CCTV solution. If the goal is not clear, the system will not work to its full capacity.

2) Use quality CCTV equipment. The equipment must be fit for the required job. This will ensure the system works at its best for you. Going with equipment that is not built for the requirements it is needed, will not last. Make sure you get the right equipment for the job.

3) Use a reputable company who have experience in the industry. Preferably a wide range of experience. This brings additional skills to table that would otherwise be lost. Use a company who understands a wider perspective on security.

4) Camera power. Use regulated suppliers. This will control the energy flow to the camera thereby extending the life time of the camera.

5) CCTV Cabling. Do not mix power cables with video cables (they must not overlap). The current in a power cable could distort the image of delivered via the video cables as they are sensitive to outside influences. In appropriate use well insulated video cable to help with image quality and limit influence on the cable.

6) Test equipment before installation. It has happened many times! You install the security equipment only to find a cable faulty, a camera faulty or a combination! Take the time and test all equipment before physical installation of the security devices. This includes the cables and especially the video cameras. Also check that the cabling is sufficient.

7) When using wireless equipment keep line of sight in mind. Wireless equipment outdoors work when there is line of sight. Forsake this tip at your own peril.

All recordings must be kept safe. No one must have easy access to these recordings. Sometimes in a robbery the robbers will also lay hands on the recorded material as they know that could identify them.

These are some great tips for CCTV Installations. The most important of these is the goal of the system. When the security system is installed, and reaches its goal – it is then when you have the most benefits.

Shopping Centres are becoming the new targets of hardcore criminals. This latest trend is of major concern to the Security Industry as they are expected to prevent these activities but are faced with a dilemma of the safety of customers.
Robbers are armed with high caliber fire arms when committing these activities and are oblivious of the potential threat they are posing to customers. Security Forces including private security personnel are placed at a huge disadvantage when facing armed robbers and are almost always one of the casualties where violence is involved. This is not due to their inefficiency but primarily due to the nature of their task. They are there to PROTECT and SERVE. Ensuring the safety of customers first!

Security Personnel
A Big debate recently started whether Security Officers at Shopping Centres should do more to apprehend Armed Robbers. The question has been asked whether these Security Officers should be armed with firearms or not. The answer to this MUST be unequivocally NO! This opinion is supported by many Security Experts including the Provincial Minister of Safety and Security of the Western Cape, Mr. Lennit Max. Let us summarize a few concerns raised by these experts about this issue:
• Private Security Personnel do not receive the intensive training Law Enforcement Organizations are exposed to with reference to Firearms and the usage thereof.
• Knowledge of the Law is essential when applying the use of a firearm. Although Private Security Personnel are trained in this regard, there is a lack of practice as they are not exposed to applying their skills on a daily basis as the case with Law Enforcement Organizations.
• There are almost always casualties of members of the public when robbery suspects are apprehended by Security Forces.

Application of CCTV at Shopping Centres
It is evident that the status qou cannot prevail and that Shopping Centre Management will have to do more in preventing the spread of armed robberies at Shopping Centres. The emphasize here is PREVENTION and not APREHENSION. We are living in an era where technology is advancing at the speed of light and new applications are introduced to the market place on a daily basis which could assist in addressing this issue.

When assessing a Security Plan of a shopping centre, the following are amongst the aspects that should be included with reference to Security Personnel:
• Deployment of Security Personnel on outside perimeter of building with specific reference to entrances and exits
• Deployment of Security Personnel close to “Anchor” tenants where large amounts of cash is handled.
• Deployment of Security Personnel during opening and closing times as well as peak hours.
• Application of CCTV and integration with other Security Systems

Aspects to consider when assessing the application of CCTV at shopping centres:
• Coverage of vehicle entrance areas
• Coverage of building entrances and exits (inclusive of individual store entrances and exits for deliveries, etc)
• Capability of Cameras (Zoom, Speed, PTZ, etc)
• Monitoring of Cameras
• Manning of Control Room
• Integration of Control Room with individual stores CCTV Systems and communication.

The value of applying CCTV in providing security at Shopping Centres are under estimated, and in my opinion, contributing to the latest trend. The following technology has been available for a while and according to personal experience not applied at any shopping centre to date:
• Number plate recognition. Identifying a prelisted vehicle upon entry against a database of stolen/suspicious vehicles and alerting security personnel.
• Facial Recognition. The same as number plate recognition functionality.

The successful application of the above technology is obviously dependent on the support of the South African Police Services as well as Shopping Centres and/or businesses. Intelligence gathering and communication will be essential and a certain amount of effort and negotiation will be required in this regard. Current associations such as the one established for Shopping Centres in South Africa could play a major part in this process.

Skyvision Corporation is well equipped and networked to assist Shopping Centres in addressing this threat. Projects undertaken are associated with the due diligence and planning, prior to implementation in order to meet the client’s specific requirements.

Get updates and reviews on security by subscribing to our free newsletter. Subscribe now by visiting our website at www.skyvisioncorp.co.za or contact us at info@skyvisioncorp.co.za or phone 021-5522705

Risk Elements

The application of Security Systems such as Security Guards, CCTV Cameras and Monitoring vary in the different retail sectors primarily dependant on it’s exposure to risk elements. These elements include but not limited to the following:

• Exposure to the general public. Shops, Shopping Centres,etc. are for example exposed to different risks than a warehouse or Distribution Centre
• The merchandise applicable.
• Internal and External handling processes of merchandise
• Lay-out of premises
• Location of premises

Factors to Consider in the Retail Sector

Skyvision is cognisant of the fact that each client has different needs when it comes to security and ensures a taylormade solution by performing a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and what is required. The following aspects are specifically relevant in the Retail Sector when proposing a security solution:

• Monitoring required in respect of staff and customers and/or visitors.
• Searching procedures at critical points
• “Hot Spots” e.g. areas where high value goods are stored or displayed to customers. This will typically refer to Isles in a shop where expensive goods e.g. electrical items are displayed.
• Location and number of entrances and exists to the premises
• Controlling of Access to staff and Visitors (e.g. Merchandisers)in the various areas within the shop.
• Opening and Closing of the premises and the risks associated with this process.
• Safety of staff and customers

Retail Processes

Skyvision has well developed processes in place which can be customised to the client’s needs and requirements.Our experience ensures a hands on approach on the following although all may not be applicable to your establishment and/or requirements:

• “ Reporting Procedures
• “ General Site Rules
• “ Patrolling Procedures and Monitoring
• “ Documentation and Recording of Incidents
• “ Deployment of Security Personnel
• “ General Responsibilities of Security Personnel
• “ Access Control Procedures and Responsibilities
• “ Responsibilities of Security Personnel at Critical Areas
• “ Searching Procedures
• “ Opening and Locking Up procedures and responsibilities
• “ CCTV  Monitoring

Contact our office for a free assessment on your retail security needs.

Current Situation

We are living in a changing world where movement of people are becoming increasingly under scrutiny primarily triggered by events such as 911 and the Mumbai incident. It was ultimately the 911 event that initiated an intense intro-spection of the security industry at large with the focus on the controlling of access specifically to public places.

Technology to Enhance Security Systems and Processes

Countries such as China, the USA and some European countries became a major role-player in the development and supply of electronic equipment in enhancing security procedures. This technology integrated with traditional/ primitive security methods such a Security Guards has proved successful in the prevention of global threats but also general crime prevention and controlling of access.

The controlling of access to public places such as shopping centres, buildings, golf estates and business parks, etc requires an integrated process making use of these up to date technology to ensure free movement in a controlled environment. Ensuring a fail proof security system/process is dependant on a reliable advice and service.

Security services offered

Skyvision Corporation offers clients a wide range of these products which are carefully selected to ensure maximum safety and security of both people and assets. Our Customers are provided with a comprehensive security solution based on their needs. These services include the following:

• Uniformed Security Officers
• Under Cover Security Officers
• CCTV Systems and Monitoring
• Biometric Identification Systems
• Face and Number Recognition

Solutions offered are based on need and will vary from a manned Access Control process to an automated Access Control System which requires minimum human intervention. Our network of Product Providers was carefully selected through years of negotiations and testing which has been fundamental to our success to date.

Security Guards are well trained and are recruited based on a sound track record and experience. Their successful deployment is secured by an excellent “On the Job” training program.

Skyvision Corporation provides the platform where the various security products and services are integrated to deliver a one stop security solution. Our Consultants are specialists in their field and ensures smooth implementation of the provided solutions. Our products and services are guaranteed to ensure maximum client satisfaction. CCTV products are offered with a service maintenance contract for the benefit of the client and a long-term business relationship. Skyvision offers the integration of security systems and procdedures for business, retail, office blocks to enable piece of mind.