HOW DOES Video Surveillance MAKE US UNSAFE?
Viseum’s Community Security Service is a step change. It moves from “Town Centre video surveillance” to Safe City Surveillance and Public Safety.
Ever since local authorities implemented Town Centre Surveillance Schemes in the 1990s. Criminals have since learned how easy it is to counter AI situational awareness systems. Also, they move to areas where there are no cameras. Or where they know the many cameras are not being watched. This is unfair for the many business and residential communities that are still living and working in fear. Even worse for today’s security climate, and a major security risk for any city. The high costs of fighting crime continue to increase, but such neglected areas can be a source of high crime.
An Independent Governance Specialist for Video Surveillance, Sydney Australia, said “Failure in one part of a Safe City system can lead to catastrophic events in other parts of the system. Displacement of crime is one example. A juvenile who gets away with minor offences and antisocial disorder may turn to terrorism in later life.”
UK Video Surveillance Leading the Way
At the start of the new millennium, a new Disruptive Technology was invented to solve this problem. In 2002 a British innovator, Stuart Thompson, designed and delivered this step change. In 2003 the UK DIT (UK Department for International Trade) offered its largest financial Smart Award for his invention. By 2004 the successes of its first installations were highly publicised. By 2007 the UK Government’s National CCTV Strategy Board published a report on the failures of legacy video surveillance systems. The report described the need for Viseum’s solution. Stuart Thompson’s group of companies trades as part of the Viseum UK Group. It is well known in the security industry. It introduced AI Surveillance Technologies to help Town Centre Regeneration Schemes deliver a stronger community security service.
“This success is very important to the entire world’s towns and cities.” (London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime)
Video Surveillance Privacy Issues
The technology breakthrough is an Intelligent Moving Camera which overcomes privacy issues, to automate surveillance . It also plays a major role in optimising the key human element of citywide security. This design answers privacy concerns and satisfies residents. The built-in software records activity by behaviour and location. It does not record how people look. If required, the camera protocols can only allow the viewing of live images when a crime is actually underway. Recordings relevant to a particular incident.
Photos of support from the UK Video Surveillance Users Group. The group sits on the UK Commissioner’s Standards Group, Standards Board and Advisory Council.
“Potentially the world’s largest surveillance service”
The innovative service that these cameras provide is called Viseum Community SafetyWatch. It uniquely encourages communities to share information with local authorities about their specific security problems. Successful pilot installations have seen the concept embraced by communities, police and local councils throughout the UK. This has spread from each initial camera installation spreading to neighbouring areas.
Communities have praised their councils for taking this Public Safety initiative. People protected by this unique PTZ camera service now depend on it to keep them safe. Families and businesses in London, Nottingham, Salford and the Isle of Man are among the latest to benefit. “This service has transformed all our lives,” is a typical comment from residents under this service. Another said, “we would not have taken on this business here if it wasn’t for this camera.”
As Stuart Thompson says, “Communities are already expected to share security issues with their local authorities, but our cameras give everyone (including the would-be criminals) the confidence that the police can act”, and “These successes show just how well this community security service multiplies in a viral way through word-of-mouth,” he adds.
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Viseum Sponsored Community SafetyWatch Pilot Installations
Pilot installations of the Community SafetyWatch service are generally funded by one or more of the direct beneficiaries of this initiative, such as the community itself that the surveillance service will protect, or the local police and/or local council. Viseum encourages people to identify high crime and antisocial hotspots. These are places where local authority crime reduction initiatives have failed. Are you part of a business or residential community that needs this service? You may be a strong candidate for a free installation. Please share this page with your local authorities, colleagues and friends. Ask for your area to be considered for a free pilot installation. Apply by email to [email protected].
Downloads for Community Security Service:
- Viseum Safe Cities Brochure
- Viseum Technology Datasheet
- Business Community SafetyWatch Presentation
- Presentation
- Next Steps
- Safe City Report
Popular information for this Security Service Technology:
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