Home Office site crashes after 18m hits an hour and claims of labelling law-abiding areas as troublespots

The launch of the Home Office’s online crime mapping website today caused mass frustration when it crashed due to high demand, and the project prompted anger from people living and working in areas unfairly depicted as troublespots.

Read more here

It brings with it a range of innovative features including
a superior overview, thanks to the 3.1 megapixel hemispheric camera with vPTZ. Modules can also be integrated, such as doorbell buttons, motion sensors or lighting controls.

MOBOTIX Video IP Door Station

The full image from a hemispheric lens  is difficult to analyze. MOBOTIX solves this problem by straightening the uneven lines from the camera software already perfectly in the live image. Since the image distortion correction of the hemispheric view and the generating of the panoramic view take place in the camera itself, no additional load is placed on the viewer PC compared to a standard camera. Thus, displaying a large number of panoramic cameras simultaneously on a single PC is possible.

The Q24 also zooms in on detail. The image of the Hemispheric camera can be corrected and continuously enlarged and any image section examined using a joystick, for example. Thus you have a mechanical PTZ-camera without maintenance or wear and tear. While zooming into a section in the live image, a full image can be stored in the recording for later analysis. No PTZ-camera in the world that operates with a motor can do that!

Together with the 180° panorama the Q24 can deliver two more views simultaneously, making it possible to see the overview and to focus on two scenes at the same time.

The surround function of the Q24 (ceiling mounted) immediately replaces four conventional cameras and shows four different directions simultaneously in quad view on a monitor. Virtual PTZ is available for each of the four views.

Every home should have a smoke alarm and we’ve discussed the various types of smoke alarms in a previous blog.

Here are some Christmas specific tips to keep you safe:

Christmas Trees

• Test your Christmas tree lights before using them
• Never leave your Christmas tree lights on over night
• Don’t place your Christmas tree close to a heater or fire place

Candles

• Ensure candles are in secure holders
• Never leave candles unattended
• Make sure candles are blown out before going to bed
• Don’t place candles too close to Christmas decorations or Christmas Trees

Electrical Appliances

• Don’t overload power adapters and extensions leads
• Don’t leave new appliances such as mobile phones charging overnight
• Ensure all cables are in good condition

Fire Places

• Always use a fireguard with an open fire
• Never place clothes or papers near the fire
• Carefully dispose of cold fireplace ashes

Cigarettes & Alcohol

• Be aware of smokers who fall asleep holding a lit cigarette
• Take care with lighting a Christmas pudding.  Do not pour alcohol straight from the bottle – use a non-flammable container such an eggcup.

Most burglaries are opportunistic.  With so many things happening over the Christmas period, it’s not surprising that home owners overlook home security matters.

Don’t let a burglar ruin your Christmas.  Here’s a quick reminder of 10 ways you can protect your home over the Christmas period:

• Keep presents out of sight until last thing on Christmas Eve
• If you are storing large items , such as bicycles, in a garage or shed – keep doors locked at all times.
• Don’t leave your curtain opens giving burglars a good view of your front room
• Empty boxes from expensive items left outside your home are a huge advert for the new goods inside, so dispose of packaging carefully.  Recycle them immediately if possible
• Keep doors locked at all times – even if you are in.  You’d be surprised at how many burglaries take place when there are people in neighbouring rooms
• If you go out for the evening, shut your curtains and keep a light on

If you are going away for Christmas

• Do not announce it on Social Media sites such as Twitter or Facebook
• Cancel all newspaper and milk deliveries
• Use an automatic timer for lights
• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property and to collect your post

We promised 10 tips but as it’s Christmas, here’s an extra 2!

To increase the chances of getting stolen goods returned

• Take the frame numbers of new cycles and the serial number of new electrical equipment
• For mobile phones, take the 15 digit IME1 number which you can find out by dialling *#06#

Audio- and video-based access control systems still require manual intervention.  A visitor is granted or denied access to the building after identifying themselves via a door entry panel.  This type of access control system is typically used for regulating building access to people who are guests or suppliers of a company.

To regulate employee building access on a day-to-day basis, a card-based access control system is far more effective and efficient.  Access can be controlled on an individual basis – conditions can be set per card with restrictions on access times and access areas depending on the access needs and security levels.  The options are endless but you can imagine how the access needs of employees in public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and prison for example, as well as private sector organisations, would vary considerably and are crucial to protect people, information and equipment.

Access conditions can also be applied to each door – for example, a reception door may allow unrestricted access between 9:00am – 5:00pm, but is controlled by a video or audio entry system at all other times. Access can also be granted across multiple sites.

With advances in chip technology, access control cards can now do much more than access control! They can enable you to not only control physical access to facilities, restricted areas and parking areas, for example,  and to monitor time and attendance of employees, but these cards can also be used for cashless transactions at onsite cafeterias and vending machines or to gain access to computer networks.

If you’d like to find out more about the access control systems that Capital Fire and Security have installed and how your business could benefit from a similar system, please contact us on 0800 0470821.

There are two main types of smoke alarm:

• Ionisation Smoke Alarms – These are the smoke alarms found in most residential properties.  They are inexpensive to purchase, can be found in most hardware stores and are typically battery operated, although can be mains-operated too.  Ionisation Smoke Alarms are sensitive to fast flaming fires, and are ideal for detecting fires started from chip pans and will detect fires before the smoke gets too thick.
• Optical Smoke Alarms (also known as Photoelectric Smoke Alarms) – These are more expensive but more effective at detecting larger particles of smoke produced by slow-burning fires, such as smouldering foam-filled upholstery and overheated PVC wiring.

Ionisation and Optical Smoke Alarms come in many variations:

• Battery Operated – some come with 10-year batteries. Whilst slightly more expensive, they do save you the battery replacement costs.
• Mains-Powered – some can be plugged into your electricity and need to be installed by qualified electricians.
• “Silence” Button – some smoke alarms have a button that can pressed to silence the alarm for a short time; this is particularly useful when cooking and is overridden in the event of a fire.
• Interconnected Alarms – some alarms can be connected so that when one alarm goes off, all the alarms in the property are triggered.  This is useful for larger properties or people who are hard of hearing.
• Emergency Lights/Strobe Lights/Vibrating Pads – some smoke alarms are fitted with an emergency light, flashing strobe lighting or vibrating pads which are set off when the alarm is triggered; these all very useful for the hard of hearing.

Which Smoke Alarm is the best for you?

As each type of smoke alarm is better at detecting a fire ignited from a different source, it is highly recommended that you install at least one of each at your premises for the best protection.

Ionisation Smoke Alarms are best placed near kitchens, whereas Optical Smoke Alarms are recommended for hallways and are particularly good for flats and bungalows.

How many Smoke Alarms do you need?

That really depends on the size of your property, how many floors there are and you should also give consideration to the amount of electrical equipment you have on the premises.

Obviously, the more smoke alarms you have, the safer you’ll be.  For maximum protection against fires, you should fit a smoke alarm in every room except for the kitchen, bathroom and garage, as smoke alarms can be easily triggered by cooking fumes, steam or exhaust fumes.

If possible, you should have an alarm on every floor and in places where is can be easily heard should a fire break out in the night when people are sleeping, or when doors are closed.

Make sure your Smoke Alarm works – 1 in 3 doesn’t!

Once you have correctly fitted your Smoke Alarm following the manufacturer’s instructions, you must test it regularly to check it is functioning properly.  It is recommended that you:

• test your Smoke Alarm once a week by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
• change the battery once a year, unless of course it’s a ten-year alarm
• replace the whole unit every ten years

You should always choose a Smoke Alarm that complies with the British Standard (BS) 5446 part 1 and carries the British Standard Kitemark or PCB ‘Horseshoe’ mark.

The Safer Homes Fund aims to improve home security for voluntary and community sector organisatons. The objective is to secure up to 45,000 homes of people in priority areas.

In London, the following organisations have secured funding.  If you are interested in finding out more, contact the organisations below.

]]> http://capitalfireandsecurity.co.uk/2009/12/could-you-benefit-from-the-safer-homes-fund/feed/ 0 http://capitalfireandsecurity.co.uk/2009/12/12-ways-to-reduce-the-risk-of-your-home-being-burgled/ http://capitalfireandsecurity.co.uk/2009/12/12-ways-to-reduce-the-risk-of-your-home-being-burgled/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:14:32 +0000 capital-fire http://capitalfireandsecurity.co.uk/?p=264 It was reported last week by the Home Office that there has been a 4 per cent increase in the number of domestic burglaries compared to last 3 months of 2008.  So, what can you do to prevent your home becoming another statistic?

Here are 12 ways in which you can improve your home security.

1. Install security systems such as a burglar alarm or a CCTV system, and importantly make them visible.  You want potential intruders to know that your home is protected.
2. Many burglars access properties from a back window, therefore ensure your windows are fitted with key locks and again, if possible, make those locks visible.
3. Keep outside doors locked at all times.  It is recommended that doors are fitted with a five lever mortice lock for added security
4. Lock garden gates and garages, and have ladders and garden appliances which may aide an intruder locked away.
5. Install motion sensitive lights to the outside of your premises.  Burglars don’t like to be seen so a light coming on unexpectedly is likely to act as a deterrent. The light may also alert you to someone being on your premises.
6. Never have your possessions on show.  Ensure TV and laptops, for example, are not visible through windows.
7. If you are away for a couple of days, put your lights or a radio on a timer (or better still both) so that it appears you are at home.
8. If you are going to be away for a longer period of time, stop newspaper and milk deliveries as a mount up of both on your door step is an obvious sign to a burglar that you are away.  Also, do not close your curtains as this is another advert that no-one is home during the day.
9. Never open your door to a stranger.  Your front door should be fitted with a peep hole so you can see who is at your door, and for added security you should also use a door chain.
10. Never leave keys hidden under mats or flower pots, or hanging from a piece of string – burglars know all these tricks!
11. Don’t leave post-it notes stuck to your door telling people you are out.  Many burglaries are opportunistic, and by telling people you are out, you are creating that opportunity.
12. If you area doesn’t already have one, organise a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your street and encourage curtain-twitchers! Details can be found at: http://www.neighbourhoodwatch.net/