Texas Security Issues Survey Results

The survey found that while administrators consider video to be the single most important tool in securing school environments, budgets for investing in newer security technologies are tight, with only about a quarter of schools expecting a security budget increase in 2008. Distributed online to administrators from public K-12 schools across Texas, the survey asked participants to rank their most significant security issues and their level of preparedness in dealing with those issues. Results indicated that, while Texas schools are moving to address security in their schools, they are not yet adequately prepared to deal with the many types of threats they face in today's world. The high level findings of the survey revealed the following: * The majority of schools (62 percent) consider unauthorized and dangerous people entering the building to be an extremely important concern; however, 78 percent of schools reported being only "somewhat prepared" to deal with an armed intruder on campus. * Funding for security technologies is not currently met with school budgets: almost 75 percent of respondents expect their budgets for video surveillance technologies to either remain steady or decrease in 2008. * Eighty-four percent indicated that if they could select just one tool to help improve security on campus, they would invest in video surveillance; 81 percent of respondents said they are currently using some kind of video cameras in their schools. * Although the majority of schools (60 percent and 72 percent, respectively) feels "extremely prepared" to deal with student infractions such as fights and vandalism and major weather or fire events, only 13 percent feels extremely prepared to deal with an armed intruder on campus. Only 9 percent feels extremely prepared to deal with student abductions from campus. In their fight to protect students, 81 percent of survey respondents indicated they are currently using some kind of video, but only 42 percent are using video proactively to identify problems before they occur. When asked if they could invest in a single security tool, 84 percent of respondents said they would invest in video over intrusion alarms, metal detectors or identity badges. However, 72 percent said they expected security budgets to remain the same or decrease in 2008 and 69 percent said they would need to conduct fundraising to pay for new security equipment. According to the survey, 35 percent of Texas schools are still relying on VCRs and tapes -- a system known as legacy or analog, that is nearly impossible to use proactively. "This survey tells us that Texas schools recognize the power of video technologies to keep students safe on campus," says Andrew Wren, president of Wren. "However, a lot of education still needs to take place to help them learn not only how to use video surveillance in a more proactive manner, but also how to leverage their existing technologies when faced with budget limitations. Cost-effective network video solutions can help schools address both of these issues."

THERE'S NO HIDING FROM THE TRUTH - YOU'RE ON CAMERA!

THERE'S NO HIDING FROM THE TRUTH - YOU'RE ON CAMERA!: " Mayor Bloomberg has said New Yorkers must face the fact that they're being watched by security cameras all the time. He isn't kidding. It's not just the Police Department and MTA watching them. Countless private security cameras eye the city at all times - and some are broadcast to the masses. "

Security Industry News

The Era of Searchable Surveillance Has Come
"The proliferation of security cameras, analytics and digital video recording devices has lead to the dilemma of data overload.Security professionals are tasked with protecting critical assets, but for decades they have been forced to struggle with grainy video, reduced manpower and financial resources, and technology shortcomings that have kept them in an unfavorable position of reactive threat assessment.The idea that installing more surveillance cameras provides more security is not a panacea. What if that video data cannot be searched in a useful way? The proliferation of security cameras, analytics and digital video recording devices has lead to the dilemma of data overload: numerous hours and security personnel are required to troll through raw video in the hope of pinpointing the exact time of a security violation. This is hardly conducive to rapid investigation and resolution.

With the advent of Intelligent Video Management Systems (IVMS), however, security personnel are finally being empowered to take a more proactive role in preempting incidents and rapidly resolving investigations. New IVMS advances can convert the unstructured video content captured by surveillance systems into a powerful base of structured information -- a central source of security information that can be readily accessed, analyzed and used to meet today’s security needs." ....Stephen Russell - 3VR

Security Industry News

Cameras would give police much-needed help, remind people they should behave properly

In response to “High-crime areas should have cameras” (Nov. 3),: This is an excellent idea. The police need all the help they can get. Cameras do not require sleep or overtime pay. They also catch things the human eye may miss. One may think that it is easy to misinterpret another’s actions; true, but some things are obvious.
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=386114&Category=7&subCategoryID=

NY Investigates - Mike Filardi - Investigator

Mike Filardi, retired Sergeant for a prominent New York State Police Department is offering his expert investigative services. His website is http://www.nyinvestigates.com/ . Some of the services that he is offering include:

Identity Theft
Computer Crimes
Email Harassment
Protection of Intellectual Property
Personal Injury
Civil Liberty
Insurance Claims
Fraud
Child Custody & Protective Cases
Missing Persons
Parental Screening
Marital Infidelity

Metropolitan Police Department: CCTV - Neighborhood Locations

Metropolitan Police Department: CCTV - Neighborhood Locations: "CCTV – Locations of Neighborhood Cameras Following are the locations of the CCTV cameras designed to combat crime in DC neighborhoods"

Churches using security cameras to fight crime | WINK News - Southwest Florida | Local & Florida

Churches using security cameras to fight crime WINK News - Southwest Florida Local & Florida: "16 churches have been burglarized in Lee County just this year. While most of those churches are willing to forgive, some are now setting up security cameras that will never forget."

CrimeEye In Washington, DC

CrimeEye on Flickr - Photo Sharing!