During my weekend scour of the Internet, I came across a story on The Scotsman’s website which caught my eye. Three months ago news came from the Scottish city of Edinburgh that Simon San, 40, a hard-working man who had fled war-torn Vietnam as a child for a new life in Scotland, had been murdered [...]
Security camera technology that can detect aggression
November 3rd, 2010I came across a story over the weekend on BBC technology online which I thought might be of interest. A UK company has developed technology that allows you to pick up aggressive sounds through security cameras. In short, the newly developed software claims to analyse pitch, tone and intonation of noises and work out if [...]
Why local businesses should invest in web security cameras
November 3rd, 2010London’s Westminster council is setting up a website that will allow Soho shopkeepers to keep an eye on potential troublemakers by watching each other’s CCTV footage. The website service is expected to become available sometime next year, and will cost shops £1 a day to gain access. Staff will also be able to contact police [...]
Five examples of anti-social behaviour and how CCTV could help
October 29th, 2010With the Government planning to cut police funds and reduce CCTV across the country, I wonder what will then become of anti-social behaviour? As funds are slashed, will the culprits of these – perhaps lesser offenses – be overlooked and pushed aside for more punishable crimes? Must the local communities of Britain brace themselves for [...]
Vigilant members of public and CCTV help catch petty robber
October 26th, 2010Great story in the news this week: an opportunistic thief in Balham, South London, was caught when the police turned to Wandsworth Council’s CCTV footage to find the offender after 999 calls from concerned local residents.
The thief; who was looking into parked cars, eventually stealing a sat-nav system from a van; was arrested within minutes [...]
Is Halloween just an excuse for anti-social behaviour?
October 20th, 2010We’re already half way through the first autumn month, and come end of October both young and old across the country will don costumes in order to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve – or Halloween as it’s more commonly known as.
With roots in the pagan festival of the dead, celebrating Halloween has long been a popular [...]
What impact does Facebook Places have on home security?
October 12th, 2010I have written about how geo-location mobile phone games may affect home security previously. However with the recent launch of Facebook Places I thought it fitting to revisit this topic. For as long as mobile phone applications and social network sites continue to evolve and encourage people to share their every movement, so must people’s [...]
Government urges CCTV talks after secret abattoir video shows abuse of animals
October 12th, 2010CCTV is in the news again after the disclosure of a gruesome video showing sickening abuse of animals in UK abattoirs. The video, which featured on The Guardian’s website on Friday 8 October was supplied by the animal rights charity Animal Aid. Shortly after the news broke, the story and accompanying video showing pigs being [...]
Why CCTV offers a way for the Government to save money & deliver safer communities
October 8th, 2010So we appear to be in the midst of a perfect storm. On one hand the Coalition Government is under huge pressure to make significant cuts in policing budgets, while at the same the public’s expectations of the role the police play in the battle against crime is very high.
So here’s one potential solution – [...]
Ed Miliband and why I think CCTV isn’t a left-right political issue
October 1st, 2010CCTV has been making the headlines once again this week. Over in Birmingham the city police force is still dealing with the fall out from the controversial decision to site CCTV cameras in largely Muslim areas.
However, arguably the most significant CCTV has come from Manchester where at the Labour party conference new leader Ed Miliband [...]