Sixty-six year old Norman, who retires after a career spanning more than 35 years, says the industry has changed beyond recognition from when he first started. “Back then there were no electronics, it was real stick and string stuff. I’ve seen the whole technological revolution evolve right in front of my eyes.”
During the 1950s, police were notified of break-ins via Police Calling Systems, commonly known as ‘niners’, which involved a recorded message being played down a telephone line.
Only commercial properties and a scattering of stately homes used the devices as a deterrent.
“In the past, it could have been a matter of luck whether burglars were caught,” says Norman, “although in my capacity as a magistrate, I did sentence someone to prison for theft who was caught by an alarm system that I had designed in my early surveyor days.”
Westcountry Security has also undergone dramatic change since it started business with a staff of two. Today it has a turnover of GB pound 6 million.
