CCTV Today articles from March 2003

CCTV Today archives from March 2003

Shoppers help in mystery death case. (CCTV In Action).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Police investigating the death of a 32-year-old man on 15 December 2002, have released CCTV images of shoppers who may be able to help with their inquiries. The shoppers all visited an Alldays Store in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, outside of...

Car-jacker admits to manslaughter. (CCTV In Action).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A `car-jacking' attempt, which resulted in the death of a 64-year-old security guard, has seen an 18-year-old man plead guilty after the incident was recorded on CCTV. The man admitted manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court and received eight...

Graffiti charge. (CCTV In Action).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A man has been charged by British Transport Police with causing more than 10,000 [pounds sterling] worth of graffiti damage. The arrest of the 19-year-old man occurred after police released an image from a hidden camera on a London Underground...

Racial attack. (CCTV In Action).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Cameras captured a racially-aggravated attack on a man in October last year. The footage, which was played to jurors at Norwich Crown Court at a trial on 3-4 February, led to the defendant being found guilty of racially aggravated assault. His...

Unmasked footage is breach of privacy right--European Court. (News).(Peck v United Kingdom)
March 1, 2003... A COUNCIL which passed on CCTV images of a suicidal man to the media which were subsequently broadcast, has been found in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the landmark case of Peck v United Kingdom, the court ruled that...

West Oxfordshire moves swiftly to plug camera gaps. (News).(Anti Social Behaviour Initiative)
March 1, 2003... RAPID DEPLOYMENT cameras are part of a new scheme to crack down on anti-social behaviour in West Oxfordshire. The Anti Social Behaviour Initiative--launched by West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership last month--coincides with the...

Pupils' behaviour comes under scrutiny on the buses. (News).(Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SCHOOL buses fitted with digital CCTV have been introduced as part of pilot projects aimed at addressing safety and security issues. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive has purchased eight single deck yellow...

Use dipped cameras! (News).(Omron Automotive Electronics' high dynamic range camera )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... AN AMERICAN company has unveiled a miniature camera that is expected to allow drivers to see further at night than the range of their headlight beams. Still at the prototype stage, the new, high dynamic range camera (HDRC) uses CMOS...

Surveillance key to robbery reduction. (News).(Greater Manchester Police and security industry join in Operation Hawk-Eye)
March 1, 2003... A JOINT police and security industry initiative in Manchester using surveillance cameras has helped to reduce cash-in-transit crime by a reported 77 per cent. Operation Hawk-Eye was launched in September 2002 in conjunction with the...

Events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... International Security Conference West 2003 26-28 March Sands Expo & Conference Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Tel: 203-840-5602; 800-840-5602 Fax: 203-840-9614 E-mail: atinquiry@iseeast.com Security Electronics 2003 2-4 April The Sydney...

Fast track system for `bullet train'. (News).(Ikegami Tsushinki Company Ltd. to install Taiwan Shinkansen video surveillance system)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A 400-camera IP networked video system is to be installed on Taiwan's new high-speed railway, due for completion in 2005. The Taiwan Shinkansen is based on the famous Japanese bullet train network, and represents a one billion yen (540,000...

Baxall. (People).(Peter Crussell )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Baxall has appointed a new export manager. Peter Crussell previously from access control company Catag and a member of the BSIA's Export Council, will be developing the company's export department, aiming to make it more pro-active.

Network Video Technologies (NVT). (People).(Gary Sykes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Network Video Technologies (NVT) has appointed Gary Sykes as sales executive, to develop and expand the company's technical sales support for the north, Scotland and Ireland.

Synectics. (People).(Alison May)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Alison May has been appointed Internal sales co-ordinator for Synectics. Her main task will be to help customers obtain speedy responses from the company.

Vicon. (People).(Didier Baecke)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Vicon has promoted Didier Baecke to European sales manager. He was previously part of the team which started the company's sales centre in Belgium and with responsibility for the low countries.

Bell Security. (People).(Steve Neville)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... High-end integrator Bell Security has appointed Steve Neville to the new position of sales director of national accounts. Previously at ADT Sensormatic In a similar role, his main task will be directing sales at Bell's non-bank multi-site...

Altron Communications Equipment. (People).(Peter Rogers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Altron Communications Equipment has appointed Peter Rogers as field sales engineer (northern). Previously he was CCTV buyer for Quadrant Video Systems.

Orbis Property Protection. (People).(Ken Fraser)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Ken Fraser has been appointed managing director of Orbis Property Protection for the north, Including Scotland, the English border regions and Ireland.

Derwent. (People).(Steve Devlin and Stephanie Adamson)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Derwent has appointed Steve Devlin as UK field sales executive and Stephanie Adamson as Internal sales executive. Steve will also be responsible for promoting the Extreme range of CCTV domes.

Nuisance neighbours--as shown on CCTV. (Eviction case uses camera evidence).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A CITY COUNCIL has, for the first time, used CCTV footage in court to get a nuisance family evicted. At a county court hearing in Leicester, the judge was shown footage--said to include members of the family--of cars being smashed up and...

UK surveillance market nudging 1 bn [pounds sterling]: digital up; analogue down. (News).(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2003... THE CCTV sector is estimated to grow to 1038 million [pounds sterling] by 2007, claims a security market forecast from Market & Business Development (MBD). This would represent real growth of 7 per cent compared with 2003. In 2002 the CCTV...

Security managers need to fight for IP buying power. (News).(Axis Communications survey)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SECURITY MANAGERS are less involved today in buying decisions for surveillance systems than they were two years ago, according to research by network video manufacturer Axis Communications. Half the CCTV installers, IT resellers, vendors...

Glasgow centralisation to end to `bidding wars'. (News).(Streetwatch Glasgow Community CCTV Centre)
March 1, 2003... A NEW centralised control room has been opened in Glasgow by HRH The Princess Royal. The opening of the Streetwatch Glasgow Community CCTV Centre has brought four local schemes under one central umbrella. Frank MacFadden, chief executive...

Storeowner doubts over CCTV effectiveness. (News).(closed circuit television fails to catch intruder)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A Forest of Dean retailer has questioned the effectiveness of local CCTV after a New Year break-in to his store failed to be caught on camera. Jeff Bennett, who runs his DIY store in Coleford, complained: "When anything ever happens here,...

Taking the right stand on standards: is there a third way? Can we steer a path between standards being too prescriptive and not keeping up with technical innovation, and the alternative of an unregulated jungle? Adam Wiseberg chairman of the BSIA's CCTV section, thinks we can--and should. (BSIA).
March 1, 2003... We all know that CCTV systems and operations continue to be the subject of rapid technological change. But this does not mean, as some might venture, that drawing up written standards in this sort of environment is simply a fruitless task. ...

Standard services? Trusting in authority? The existence of standards--and the willingness of responsible users to use them--is one of the reasons for the relatively high acceptance of public area CCTV in the UK, compared to other countries. (User Group).
March 1, 2003... During the last decade we have witnessed a massive growth in `public area' surveillance, which has prompted considerable interest from governments and journalists around the world wanting to learn from our experience. One of the questions...

Tip of the iceberg: Canary Wharf in Docklands is fast becoming London's new commercial heartland. But how does such a rapidly expanding site meet its growing surveillance needs? Ron Alalouff went to find out. (Large Site).
March 1, 2003... Canary Wharf is not all it seems. To most people, it is represented by the tallest building in London--that famous landmark of a broad shouldered tower topped off with a pointed roof. But the 50-storey tower--somewhat prosaically known as...

Long distance runners? Installers and their customers now have a wide selection of transmission mediums to choose from. Simon Lambert examines the options available and looks at the pros and cons of each one. (Transmission).
March 1, 2003... There has never been a better time to get your pictures and data from one place to another. And the way things are going, it's only going to get better. You can do things today that never used to be viable, but make sure you don't miss any old...

Ethernet on the road. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... NKF Electronics has introduced its XSNet 1600 QMC, a 5-port Ethernet switch, providing IP-communication for many applications along the roadside. The switch has four 10/100Base-T ports and one optical port (100Base-FX). Extensions of...

Getting active with baluns. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... According to American Fibretek, Cop-R-Com passive baluns are only suitable for transmission distances up to 305 metres. To overcome this limitation, the company has introduced the VBR-15 and VBR-30 `active' modules. These have built-in...

Plug and play connection to aid network video development. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Recognising the need for a module that can easily form part of a structured cable system, American Fibretek can now offer R J45 connections to CCTV installers. There are two models in the range; the VBR30/4c, with transmission distances up...

Security system doubles up to give management a steer. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... When Johnson Control Automotives (JCA)--a manufacturer of interior body panels for the X-Type Jaguar car--decided to upgrade security at its Speke site in Liverpool, it was pleased to find that the system it chose also served as a management...

Keeping track of moving objects via digital video link. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Designed for law enforcement and military applications, the dVMo (digital video for moving objects) digital video link is available from Wood & Douglas. The product has the potential for multiple services. This allows the joining and...

Remote service upgrade. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... As part of a new three-year deal, Remguard Visual Management has upgraded the capability of the remote CCTV monitoring service it supplies to Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. Now featuring the latest RemVu Aquila transmission system, the...

Proactive prescription: the introduction of intelligence support essential if CCTV surveillance is to become a more proactive discipline, argue Jeff Corkill and Craig Donald. Here they analyse the benefits of such an approach. (CCTV and Intelligence).
March 1, 2003... There is an increasing acknowledgement that effective CCTV surveillance operations are dependent on a number of factors besides technology. These include appropriate management direction, clear operational requirements, ergonomics, selection,...

Move along now: although the media spotlight is on congestion charging in London, there are other camera-based initiatives under way to ease traffic problems and provide safer buses in the capital. (Traffic).
March 1, 2003... Better traffic flows and a more reliable and safer public transport system in London are some of the benefits being claimed for a new initiative, which began last autumn, and becomes fully operational for 24 hours a day in 2004. The London...

Space saving screens: some of the features of modern control rooms include new options for displaying images--particularly on flat-screen monitors. Originally designed for computers, we tested a selection of them, in association with Tavcom Training to see whether they stand up to the demands of surveillance work. (Flat Screen Monitors).(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... One main objective is to find out whether flat screen monitors can compete with conventional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors. For this reason one typical high quality CRT monitor was included in the same series of tests to act as a yardstick to...

Payback time: James Carrigan, divisional manager of networks at IFSEC 2003 exhibitor Baxall, looks at how the new breed of CCTV systems which operate over digital networks can be put to better use in the retail sector. (Exhibition & Conference Preview).
March 1, 2003... CCTV has long been established as a vital security tool in the retail industry and can now be found even in the smallest of corner shops across the UK. Shop owners and managers recognise its importance in loss prevention, but let's be...

Monitoring agreement. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... LookC Limited has announced its fifth secure server licensing agreement with Security Monitoring Centres Limited (SMC), the central monitoring arm of Chubb plc. This agreement allows Chubb's central monitoring stations to monitor both live...

Scientists go to extremes for volcanic research. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Explosion-protected cameras from Extreme CCTV have been chosen to remotely monitor an active volcano in the Antarctic. The risk of acidic gases and `volcanic bombs' at the remote site means that ordinary cameras might be destroyed or trigger...

Schooled in security. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... When Burnage High School in Manchester was looking to upgrade its CCTV installation to a modern digital system, it consulted Security Management Plus for advice who, in turn, recommended the Digital Sprite system from Dedicated Micros. At...

Disabled people to help keep town centres safe and secure. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... UK provider of employment for disabled people, Remploy, has now strengthened its position as a provider of CCTV monitoring services to local councils and the police by winning management contracts with three local authorities. Preston,...

Hospital protection twice over. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Photo-Scan Systems and Karspace Management (KML) have provided security systems to the Morriston Hospital in Swansea and Bedford Hospital. At both sites, KML is responsible for the hospital car parks, while Photo-Scan provides CCTV as part of a...

Well worth it at Woolworths. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Woolworths has installed a new CCTV system from Merit Li-Lin at its head office in London. The high street store has used Merit Li-Lin's new range of stainless steel high resolution fixed mini domes; high speed fully functional colour...

IP collaboration announced. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Baxall and Cisco distribution partner, Comstor UK, have announced a new collaboration agreement. James Carrigan, divisional manager networks at Baxall, commented: "Comstor UK is a channel provider of networking technology products...

Birthday celebrations. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Reflex Systems Ltd is a specialist in the design, installation and maintenance of CCTV video surveillance, access control and audio communications. Reflex says it has a proven track record in delivering...

Looking square in the eye. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Cameras froth Baxall have been installed in a new retail development in Stockton on fees. The 180,000 sq. ft Wellington Square development has been fitted with an extensive CCTV system, incorporating 22 CDX9714 cameras. These have been...

Swimming with the tide. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Digital multiplex recorders from Dedicated Micros have enabled the London Aquarium and County Hall to upgrade their CCTV control systems. Located on the south bank of the Thames, the buildings use five Digital Sprite units, with 75 video...

Movement detection. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Fitted on to two high towers which overlook the site, a movement-sensitive CCTV system has been installed at the Ling Metals Canterbury premises by Kent & Sussex Security. When intruders are detected, the system is said to be programmed so...

Cameras get sent to Coventry. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... The University of Coventry has upgraded its CCTV system. The contract, awarded to Bradley Lomas Electrolok, involved the replacement of existing monochrome cameras to new high speed, high resolution dome cameras with zoom facilities. The...

Three is a magic number. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Lancashire-based security firm, Leerose Integrated Systems, has scooped three industry awards: Investors in People (IIP), the Quality Standard ISO9001 and a Commendation from the Security Systems & Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB). Leerose...

On a different wavelength. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Wavelength Digital, a manufacturer of broadband wireless solutions, is set to be rebranded and relaunched on 1 April 2003, as Wavelength Solutions. This comes as a result of merging the strengths of Probot Communications, Wireless Research...

Roving unit to drive out crime. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Working in partnership with Thanet District Council, Photo-Scan Systems has developed a mobile CCTV unit to tackle crime and disruptive hot spots in Margate. After consultation with members of the Thanet Community Safety Partnership, the...

Domes aim to be a media marvel. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Some 11 JVC TK-676E dome cameras are to be installed in the main press centre auditorium at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. These cameras will be used to coordinate international media coverage and will be linked via a computer controlled...

Domes and video matrix help furnish Ikea. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Located on the outskirts of Brussels, the Zaventem Ikea store makes use of Vicon's Surveyor domes and the company's Aurora matrix system. Described as a high-density 128-input x 24-output programmable control and matrix switching system,...

Second renewal for Pointer. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... High end property protection company, Pointer, has achieved the second renewal of its accreditation lasting for three years to September 2005. The company does most training in-house and says it has seen the benefit in higher efficiency,...

Baxall commended for commitment to research. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Baxall has received a high commendation for innovation and R&D in the 2002 Management Today Awards. Devised to promote manufacturing excellence in the UK against growing international competition, the Awards are organised in association...

Cameras are a refined taste in Russia. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Two Russian petroleum refineries owned by Engineering Center Yukos are the latest beneficiaries of Baxall CCTV cameras. A total of 88 high resolution, infrared, digital signal processing monochrome CDX9742 cameras have been installed across...

Three become one in Preston. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Norbain has unveiled plans to centralise its existing three service centres with the opening of a new facility in Preston, Lancashire. The new facility incorporates a purpose-built engineer's workshop, and, at 6100 square feet, represents a...

Latest port of call for Belfast Bell. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... After winning a competitive tender, Bell Group's Northern Ireland subsidiary, Bell Security (NI), has completed a high security, digital CCTV installation at the Port of Belfast, a busy ferry port. The installation includes more than 70...

Digital recorder's camera options. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A digital video recorder with an embedded PC is newly available from Worsdworth Technology. The VioGate may be used as a stand-alone unit supporting up to four cameras, or can function as an individual node on a distributed LAN-based...

Marching on bank networks. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Two new network digital video recorders have been announced by Canadian-based March Networks Corporation. The March Networks 4310 and 4210 DVRs have the same smaller physical profile and docking station design as the previously released...

I can see clearly now--in the dark. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... ClearView Communications have introduced to their catalogue a new range of infra-red LED illuminators and cameras from Hunt Electronics. The HTI-760 is an externally rated (IP66) IR illuminator with a range of approximately 10m. The lamps...

Wide CMOS camera range. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Photon Focus's range of CMOS cameras is now available in the UK from Firstsight Vision. The range of over 15 models include some of the fastest area scan cameras on the market, claims the company. Standard resolution cameras with frame...

Number-plate recognition for car parks and access control. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Automatic number plate recognition has been added to a range of access control solutions from APT Controls. The Talon ANPR technology can handle low light levels and can be operated with infra-red lighting, floodlighting or with a dedicated...

Mobile metal LCD monitor. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A monitor suitable for mobile and in-vehicle applications has been launched by Kent Modular Electronics. The 29LM081 LCD monitor series has what is described as a very high light output of 1400cd/[m.sup.2], making it suitable for high...

High speed identification. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A specialised black & white camera suitable for use with infrared illuminations has been announced by Komoto. The 580 TVL camera--said to operate at light levels as low as 0.05 lux, or with I-R illumination down to 0.0001 lux--is also...

Miniature progressive scans. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A miniature progressive scan camera, with a 1/3 inch sensor at a resolution of 1024 x 768 at 30 frames a second, is now available from Firstsight Vision. The Sony XC-HR70 supports partial scan readout, enabling up to 180 partial frames per...

CCTV software's Paris prize. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A video management software programme from TEB has been named product of the year at the recent Equipmag exhibition in Paris. The product consolidates the management of security and fire alarm systems on a site, and provides a common...

New dome offerings. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A new dome camera available in colour and day/night options is now available from Siemens Building Technologies. The camera has a 360[degrees] operation with a pan speed of up to 280[degrees] per second. It features programmable tours and...

`Throttle control' for network managers. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... The latest Divar video digital multiplexer and hard disk recorder is suitable for powerful networking applications, claims its manufacturer, Bosch Security Systems. it can be used as a stand-alone unit for up to 16 cameras, or can be part...

Filters help DPA compliance. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Privacy filters to help companies comply with the Data Protection Act, are available from 3M. The Act says that monitors displaying images from areas in which individuals would have an expectation of privacy should not be seen by anyone,...

First UTP camera from JVC. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... A new colour camera with video output via a twisted pair cable has been unveiled by JVC. The 1/3 inch TK-C720ETP CCD is said to deliver 470 lines of horizontal resolution and 1.5 lux sensitivity. JVC's first twisted pair-enabled camera...

Integrators quality milestone. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... Touchstone Electronics has recently achieved quality management assurance to BS EN ISO 9001:2000. The quality accreditation covers the installation and maintenance of video and data management systems, as well as the design of bespoke...

`Xtra' cable gland range. (Products & Services).
March 1, 2003... The range of Elkay cable glands is now available ex-stock from Adaptaflex, as part of its `Xtra' programme of customer service. They are available from standard systems through to full engineering specification glands. The standard range...