With the latest statistics on education sector security revealing an astonishing upward trend in computer thefts from schools, colleges and universities, members of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) are continuing to raise awareness of the many security solutions that exist to help educational establishments remain welcoming and yet wholly secure environments.
Crime against schools continues to pose a multi-million pound threat for already scarce educational resources, whether it involves the wholesale theft of valuable IT equipment by professional criminals or the cumulative effects of relatively minor acts of vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.
For the education sector, crime has always been about more than just tackling the risk of financial loss, important though that may be.
The personal safety of pupils and staff is also of prime concern. That’s reflected in legislation and Best Practice in areas focused on the national minimum care standards, the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Occupiers Liability Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (which impose a Duty of Care upon the owners and managers of buildings).
With many educational buildings operating well into the evening as a result of hosting out-of-hours clubs, society gatherings and meetings, premises are often left open – and are therefore vulnerable – for longer periods of time, with many after-hours visitors emanating from the wider town or county community.
Often, the absence of reception staff at these times means that even unwanted or unauthorised visitors are able to come and go as they please, in turn placing both the buildings and that valuable equipment they contain at risk.
Open environment versus the need for security
One of the greatest challenges for any education establishment’s managers is balancing the need to create an open and stimulating environment that encourages learning while at the same time ensuring people are protected from the threat of theft, vandalism, physical attack and abuse.
The first requirement of effective school security is, of course, to consider physical means for keeping unwanted criminals out. Strong fences and security-rated locks on doors and windows help to deter and delay intrusions, as well as combining a barrier with opportunities for natural surveillance from passers-by.
The use of sensor-activated internal lighting that switches on when movement is detected inside the perimeter can also be employed to good effect, enhancing security without incurring high energy costs.
In truth, such physical measures make an intruder’s task more difficult, risky and time consuming as well as helping to secure the premises from trespass during school hours.
The basic role of security technology here is to underpin the physical basics by providing a reliable means of detecting and responding to any intrusions that do occur.
Protection regime at Reaseheath College
A real-life example of the successful integration of security systems in the education sector occurred when BSIA member company TDSi was chosen to deliver an enhanced security solution at the Reaseheath College in Cheshire, which caters for the learning of 1,000 full-time and 6,000 part-time students.
Previously, Reaseheath College had a limited number of access control systems and CCTV cameras on the site and the management wanted to enhance its security arrangement. Additionally, the establishment’s managers wanted to be able to monitor what is a huge site for any potential problems, and enable out-of-hours access to certain areas of the campus.
The sheer size of the 500-acre site was likely to be a challenge. Working with college staff, TDSI fitted 27 internal and 14 external cameras throughout the campus while extending the existing access control system to enable effective control and monitoring of the movement of people around specific areas of the site by tracking the movement of any single ID card.
If any card marked as lost is used to try to gain access to an area, a camera will take a picture of the user and the system will then track their progress around the grounds, noting what areas they are attempting to access.
“It’s very rare that we have any incidents, but this system allows us to respond very quickly and efficiently should a problem occur,” explained John Basford, assistant student services manager at Reaseheath College.
Introduction of forensic marking technology
On the unfortunate occasions where valuable IT equipment is removed from educational establishments – as reported by 27% of respondents in a recent survey carried out by LapSafe Products – it’s true to say that forensic marking technology can play a significant role in the identification and recovery of stolen goods. This type of technology can also act as a deterrent to the potential thief.
Advances in technology have led to the development of unique tagging technology employing DNA-style chemical coding within property marking solutions to enable stolen property to be traced back to its owner with even greater accuracy.
This makes it a less attractive proposition to would-be thieves and, if signposted effectively, can work just as well as any physical barrier that may be in place to prevent a break-in.
With this in mind, there’s a real benefit for schools and other educational establishments to mark their property, especially as they are likely to have large amounts of valuable electronic equipment (for example computers and monitors) kept on site at all times.
Every school in the East London Borough of Havering is now being protected by BSIA member Selectamark’s DNA forensic marking solution following the introduction of an extensive security initiative in the area. This has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the amount of property theft.
Prior to this, theft from schools had been a major problem for Havering’s Local Education Authority (LEA), costing approximately GB pound 250,000 over an 18-month period. Local police have also confirmed that the forensic marking is extremely effective at deterring thieves, most notably when the scheme is properly advertised and promoted around the premises by warning posters.
Speaking of the project, Penny Patterson from Havering LEA said: “Schools in the area have given us positive feedback. They say the product is easy to use, and some of the schools have even involved pupils in the process of marking equipment so that they can pass on the message about how important security is both at school and in the home environment.”
To find out more about BSIA members and how their products and services can help educational establishments reduce crime visit www.bsia.co.uk
BSIA to host networking event for potential members at IFSEC International
With IFSEC International 2012 now looming large on the horizon, the BSIA is busy preparing for a hectic week at the industry’s leading trade show. There are many events taking place both on and off the BSIA’s stand (which is number C130 and located in Hall 4 at the NEC).
While the BSIA’s membership is already diverse and represents a wide range of industry sectors and specialist areas, growth is a key aspect of the Trade Association’s business plan for 2012, with the ultimate goal of achieving deeper penetration of the various sectors that the Association represents.
IFSEC International, of course, is an ideal opportunity for the BSIA to reach out to potential new members and raise awareness of the many benefits of joining the organisation.
With this in mind, the BSIA will be hosting a networking luncheon on its stand on Wednesday 16 May as an informal event open to both members and non-members alike. The luncheon represents an ideal opportunity for non-members to meet both BSIA staff and existing members and ffind out more about the benefits of joining the BSIA.
Further details will be released nearer the time, but anybody keen on attending can register their interest by contacting the BSIA’s membership manager Daren Wood (telephone: 07710 082645, e-mail: [email protected]).
Those interested in BSIA membership but unable to attend IFSEC International this year can also register online to receive regular updates from the Trade Association.
Drop by the BSIA Members’ Lounge
For existing members of the Association, the BSIA stand will also be hosting a dedicated Members’ Lounge, providing an ideal place for members of the Association – whether visiting IFSEC as a delegate or exhibitor – to have a welcome break, catch up on e-mails, hold meetings, meet BSIA staff or simply have a cup of coffee and unwind for a time.
For the BSIA, work on IFSEC International preparations begins way ahead of the event itself. The IFSEC Security Industry Awards reward the best new technology and products that have been introduced to the security sector in the last year, and recognise the industry’s leading projects, installations, guarding companies and policing partnerships.
The BSIA has once again worked closely with IFSEC International organiser United Business Media (UBM) to co-ordinate the judging of the IFSEC Security Industry Awards and looks forward to welcoming the winners onto its stand for a photo shoot on the morning of Tuesday 15 May.
Also returning to IFSEC International this year is the ever-popular Meet The Buyers event, organised by the BSIA in partnership with the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), UBM and the International Trade Promotion Centre.
Meet The Buyers is a popular ‘speed networking’ event wherein brief ten-minute introductory meetings are arranged in advance. Last year’s edition Meet The Buyers’ extraordinary levels of success and welcomed security procurement specialists from countries including India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Dubai and Nigeria.
Over the years, Meet The Buyers has achieved such impressive results, introducing UK businesses to over 1,200 overseas buyers and resulting in almost GB pound 10 million worth of predicted sales.
Attending the event in 2011 for a second year running, Jumade Adejola from Nigerian company Surveillant Fire Limited explained the reasons why, as a foreign company, this event is so beneficial.
Adejola commented: “My organisation has been dealing with UK companies for a number of years now, and being able to attend and be associated with Meet The Buyers puts us ahead of our competitors as it proves we’re serious about forging lasting links with UK businesses.”
He added: “We’ve seen a significant boost in sales following the event, and our relationships with UK companies have never been better. Being able to meet people face-to-face always allows for greater networking success.”
In addition to co-ordinating Meet The Buyers, the BSIA will also host IFSEC’s International Visitors’ Lounge in Hall 4.
With more events being added to the BSIA’s IFSEC International calendar every day, it’s well worth checking its website to keep up-to-date with the latest activity planned. For more information, visit the Association’s dedicated IFSEC web page
The Big Issue: Cash criminals run a higher risk than ever of being caught
The latest statistics issued by the BSIA’s Cash-in-Transit intelligence service, SaferCash, indicate that offenders performing Cash-in-Transit robberies stand as much as a 50% chance of being caught and convicted in some high-risk areas, including Manchester, Liverpool, London and the West Midlands.
Transporting around GB pound 500 billion every year – the equivalent to GB pound 1.4 billion every day – the UK’s Cash-in-Transit industry performs an essential public service, keeping cash moving around the country and supporting banks, retailers and businesses by facilitating millions of transactions every day.
With its high value comes a high risk, and cash couriers face the everyday threat of attack and robbery. Previous victims of Cash-in-Transit crime have sustained long-term physical and psychological effects as a result of shootings, stabbings, pistol whippings and severe beatings, all while carrying out the day-to-day requirements of their job role.
With criminals’ modus operandi constantly evolving, the industry, the Government and the police service continue to work together to remain one step ahead of the criminals and protect more Cash-in-Transit couriers from falling victim to such brutal attacks.
Not only are criminals now more likely to get caught, but sentencing is also particularly tough for this serious crime. In 2011, approximately 950 years of custodial sentences were handed down for Cash-in-Transit offences dating back as far as 2009, with 19 offenders receiving sentences in excess of ten years.
Improving safety in the wider community
According to Ashley Bailey (chairman of the BSIA’s Cash-and-Valuables-in-Transit Section), removing these criminals from the streets is helping to improve safety in the wider community.
“Joint research commissioned by the BSIA and the Home Office has shown that, in many cases, Cash-in-Transit offenders can be linked to a wide range of other crimes, from car key burglary to drug offences and even murder,” said Bailey.
“Thanks to successful partnership work involving the security industry, the Government and the police service, these offenders that threaten the safety of our communities across the country are now in jail.”
If you have any information about Cash-in-Transit crime in your area you can help keep these criminals off the streets by calling the police or Crimestoppers (anonymously) on 0800 555 111.
For more information about the BSIA’s Cash-and-Valuables-in-Transit Section click here
Amanda Beesley is PR and marketing communications manager at the British Security Industry Association
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