But a revision of the document they are working to (PD6662) is now necessary for a number of reasons and the BSI wants installers’ views on how it needs to be amended.
The bad news is that views must be with the BSI by the end of February. The BSIA is responding on behalf of its members and it’s likely the inspectorates will do the same. But if you have specific points in the standards you would like to see changed you must get them to the BSI asap.
The response address and the reasons for the revision are explained here.
You can still read those many heartfelt letters and articles from installers on www.info4security.com Just key in the name “Carl Samm” in the search box. He was the installer who spoke his mind and set off a chain reaction with our readership.
Mean streets
The death of father of three, Gary Newlove at the hands of a group of youths is said to be a turning point in the fight back against street crime and thuggery. But while the Home Office says crime is dropping, even the Home Secretary admits it’s not safe to walk the streets of London after dark.
(I know it was a gift to headline writers, but does anyone else feel this whole kebab shop footnote has brought a frivolous edge to this most serious of admissions? Maybe I need a humour injection, but when the person ultimately responsible for our safety admits such a failure should it really be reported with puns about pitta bread and doners (rather than donors) and a list of best kebab shops, as one London paper did? Is it any wonder our politicians ride roughshod over the electorate when the popular press treats issues in this infantile way?)
Sickeningly similar to the Gary Newlove case, this tragic story was one reported in the immediate run up to Christmas and was largely overlooked amid the seasonal mayhem. Yet again, mindless violence causes the death of an innocent family man. But while this case could be seen to be another example of the lawlessness that must be reversed, it is an even clearer illustration of the kind of pathetic sentencing that encourages it.
Stunning fashion
Now for the girl who has everything – a leopard print holster for theTaser! Or what about a Taser holster with an MP3 player?
Personal protection can be both fashionable and functionable says the CEO of Taser International.
Since the introduction of these products into British policing, could they eventually be available to the public? With the fear of street crime so high, could we see a lifting of the UK ban on this type of self defence? This frightening prospect is highly unlikely.
Even though the police mantra “Don’t take the law into your own hands” could be interpreted as “Leave it to us to issue a caution” the prospect of citizens walking around at night armed with stun guns is little too much Wild West for my liking.
Identity crisis
It’s about time there were more “vox pops” from the security industry as opposed to the official line from industry organisations. So it’s good to see the IFSEC organisers taking the lead here. But I was surprised at the results of an industry poll on the national ID card. In the poll of 1404 visitors to the IFSEC website, when asked “Do you think an ID card is necessary if you already have a passport?” 952 responded Yes (a 68 per cent majority). If the poll had been taken a year ago I wouldn’t have been surprised at a much higher vote in favour (including yours truly).
But after the depressing parade of ministers apologising for losing personal details of millions of us over the last few months I was surprised at the continuing strong support from within the industry.
The details of 25 million parents and children “lost in the post”, three million learner drivers’ details lost, confidential benefits files scattered on the road…
The loss of 600,000 military service applicants details plus other MoD admissions this week is especially worrying.
This never-ending series of serious data breaches has been a gift to the anti-ID card lobby. The best campaigner for “Say no to ID cards” is the government that’s proposing them.
There are still the same strong arguments to be made in favour of ID cards and if you find yourself increasingly needing help defending the idea you might find it useful to get some ammunition from the Home Office web site where the arguments in favour are persuasively stated. However, you may find yourself outweighed by shifting public opinion which, after being pretty much evenly split, now seems to be in favour of dropping the idea into room 101.
Does my bot look big in this?
It had to happen didn’t it? The ultimate downside of all the advantages the web brings. Yes, horror of horrors… hackers can now see us!
What, even in our pajamas?
Apparently, they can not only use their inscrutable web “bots” to steal our identities – as if that wasn’t enough – but they can also observe us through our own webcams (glad I haven’t got one). Watch the video and be very afraid.
See you next time
Alan Hyder
Editor, Security Installer