Museum surveillance

Intersec, the emergency services, security, and safety event has strengthened its leadership team appointing expert industry veteran Alex Nicholl as Intersec Exhibition Head. The senior hire is a further demonstration of Intersec’s investment in the significant growth of the flagship event that will mark its return in January 2022 by uniting global leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the industry at the highly anticipated event. Nicholl has 20 years of experience in the events industry spanning India, the UAE, and the UK, brings deep expertise to Intersec, having held leading roles at major homeland security, aerospace, and defense exhibitions, combined with almost two decades of service as a senior officer with the British Army. Commitment to safety and security Christine Davidson, Group Exhibition Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said, “We are delighted to welcome Alex Nicholl to the Intersec team. With the immense focus on the industry in the last 18 months, Messe Frankfurt recognizes that Intersec’s importance to the safety and security industry has never been greater, we are bringing the best in the industry on board to develop the most relevant and comprehensive event for the industry.” “Alex’s sector experience is second to none, with two decades of defense and security events industry experience and eighteen years as a Senior Officer in the British Military his vast network of relationships across government and business entities will be invaluable.” “His appointment is testament to our commitment to deliver a world-class event that brings strategic value to the industry and meets the needs of every stakeholder, from government entities to sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.”  Bringing expectations to reality The exhibition brings the entire emergency services, security, and safety ecosystem together at one time" Alex Nicholl, Intersec Exhibition Head, said, “I am excited to be joining the most significant event in our industry." "The exhibition brings the entire emergency services, security, and safety ecosystem together at one time and, after limited opportunity to meet in recent times, Intersec’s 23rd edition is set to be the best yet - we have listened to what our stakeholders need and have a ground-breaking event in development that will inspire discussion, collaboration, connections and business that will support them in building a safer and more secure world.” Intersec, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center from 16-18 January 2022 under the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’  Addressing the vulnerabilities of the future together Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, long-standing Official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defense, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), and NAFFCO, while additional government partners for 2022 will be announced shortly. Seen as a nexus for the industry, Intersec will bring together thousands of its most powerful stakeholders for bilateral government and business discussions on mitigating and addressing vulnerabilities of the future. They will be joined by leading regional and international brands exhibiting the most innovative systems and solutions in a dynamic environment that will enable face-to-face and virtual exchange through interactive roundtables, workshops, and ‘closed-door’ confidential conversations.

SMART SHOOTER, a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems that significantly increase the accuracy and lethality of small arms, will present its SMASH family of solutions at the AUSA Exhibition in Washington DC, USA. Towards the exhibition, the company announces that the United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, through its Rapid Capabilities Office (MCRCO), has recently purchased several SMASH 2000 systems for test & evaluation. The systems will be delivered this fall. Increased engagement range The company has also signed a cooperative research & development agreement with US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane). Under this agreement, the US Navy will evaluate the use of SMASH technology on ships and vessels for Counter-UAS purposes. This collaboration aims to perform joint integration and evaluation of Smart Shooter’s technology with weapons and ammunition currently supporting the US Navy’s mission. With an increased hit probability for small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and increased engagement range, Smart Shooter’s SMASH technology has demonstrated the potential to increase the Navy’s ability to engage sUAS at the individual level – using existing weapons and ammunition in inventory. Anti-Drone capability SMASH fire control systems put a precision anti-drone capability at the fingertips of its users" Michal Mor, SMART SHOOTER CEO: “We are honored to announce that the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and NSWC Crane have chosen our technology to better protect against the ever-growing drone threat at land and sea. Featuring built-in targeting algorithms that can track and hit even very small drones, SMASH fire control systems put a precision anti-drone capability at the fingertips of its users, and we are happy to present our innovative solutions at the AUSA exhibition.” SMASH Fire Control System (FCS) is an external add-on solution that can be integrated into any type of military rifle. Once the user identifies the target (independently or using the detection system guidance) and locks on it, SMASH tracks its movements and synchronizes the shot release to assure a fast and precise hit on the target. SMASH can be operated as a stand-alone solution as well as combined with other systems to provide an effective multi-layer defense solution. Smart Shooter will present the SMASH 2000 as well as the SMASH Hopper Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) and other members of the SMASH family of FCS at the AUSA exhibition, stand 4418.

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, will participate and present its AMPS (Airborne Missile Protection Systems) family of solutions at the IDEX exhibition in Brno. Operational and combat-proven, AMPS is currently protecting hundreds of military and VIP aircraft worldwide, including aircraft of NATO member countries such as the Czech Republic. Spreos Dircm At the exhibition, BIRD Aerosystems will present its patented SPREOS DIRCM, which enhances aircraft protection by providing unique threat confirmation, tracking, and jamming of all advanced IR-guided missiles. Using semi-active interrogation radar, SPREOS confirms the validity of the incoming threat hence eliminating all false alarms, while precisely tracking and analyzing the threat’s unique information to enable the most effective jamming response. Compact and Lightweight, SPREOS is an ideal solution for a range of airborne platforms and can be integrated with any legacy MWS system. AMPS AeroShield pod AMPS AeroShield pod is an all-in-one Pod solution that supports the installation of AMPS on narrow and wide-body aircraft The company will also present the AMPS AeroShield pod, an all-in-one Pod solution that supports the installation of BIRD’s AMPS on narrow and wide-body aircraft. The AeroShield pod offers the most comprehensive anti-missile protection by uniquely using both BIRD’s SPREOS DIRCM and Flares and enabling customers to fly fully protected in the most challenging theaters. Easily installed, the AeroShield POD can be simply transferred between different platforms. Efficiency Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems, “BIRD Aerosystems AMPS has proved its efficiency in protecting military and VIP aircraft against all known Surface to Air Missiles (SAM), including MANPADS, Laser Beam Rider threats and radar-guided missiles. With the Czech air force amongst our customers, we are happy to participate at the IDET exhibition in Brno and present our innovative, combat-proven solutions.”

Intersec – the emergency services, security and safety event – will mark its return in 2022 with a ground-breaking, elevated new program uniting global and regional leaders as they explore solutions for the rapidly evolving challenges facing the industry. Never-before-seen additions to the event will see Cybersecurity and technology take center stage, along with some of the world’s best speakers in the UAE for the first time. The 23rd edition of the flagship event, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be staged under the theme of ‘Uniting the industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ More secure world His Highness said: “Intersec will be the most important platform of the year for businesses and governments to collaborate and continue on their paths of building a sustainable, safer, and more secure world for our generation and those that follow. We look forward to hosting our communities once again, safely, physically, and live in-person.” Intersec will be the most important platform of the year for businesses and governments to collaborate" The first industry gathering of 2022, staged at Dubai World Trade Center from 16-18 January, is the only event in the region that brings the entire ecosystem of emergency services, security and safety together at one time. Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, long-standing official supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defense, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), and Dubai Municipality while additional government partners for 2022 will be announced shortly. Cyber lab offering Intersec’s innovation and technology focus will include its first-ever cyber lab offering a vital platform for knowledge. Organizer Messe Frankfurt has worked closely with industry stakeholders, from both the private and public sectors, to develop an event that reflects both their current and future needs that offer attendees bespoke platforms to gain expert insight on future capacity and capabilities. Christine Davidson, Intersec’s Group Exhibition Director, said: “There has never been such an intense focus as there is today on the security and safety industry which has been at the frontline of protecting the world’s communities over the last 18 months during this time of significant global disruption.” Content-Rich program We have the most comprehensive line-up of international and regional speakers" “Having invested heavily to deliver an outstanding program that will address the sector’s most vital issues and opportunities, Intersec 2022 brings the industry together at this crucial juncture to share knowledge from recent experiences and look to the future with the event’s most powerful series of conferences including multiple platforms for strategic G2G, G2B and B2B discussions and deep dive sessions into key sector verticals.”   Ms. Davidson added: “The phenomenal development in the framework of the show will see the best minds in the industry come to the table with the most content-rich program ever seen at Intersec. We have the most comprehensive line-up of international and regional speakers, dynamic networking opportunities, coupled with world-class exhibitors to bring the most relevant value to Intersec’s attendees.” Most innovative systems “We have built a world-class team to deliver this event and over the coming weeks we will be sharing further details of our elite speakers and conference program that will demonstrate the extraordinary value of the event to our attendees.” Intersec will bring together thousands of its most powerful stakeholders for bilateral government Seen as a nexus for the industry, Intersec will bring together thousands of its most powerful stakeholders for bilateral government and business discussions on mitigating and addressing vulnerabilities of the future. They will be joined by regional and international brands exhibiting the most innovative systems and solutions in a dynamic environment that will enable face-to-face and virtual exchange through interactive roundtables, workshops, and ‘closed-door’ confidential conversations. World-class speakers The 23rd edition of Intersec presents the industry’s most comprehensive showcase to date as it brings together regional and international government leaders, agencies, and organizational heads with outstanding world-class speakers innovative products, technology & solutions across all key sectors. Intersec, as a nexus for the fire and emergency services, security, and safety industry, unites thousands of sector specialists once again for vital discussion and face-to-face exchange in a fresh and dynamic environment.

Instead of its originally scheduled late-September timeslot, Secutech Vietnam will now take place at a future date. The postponement is due to recurring outbreaks of COVID-19 across Vietnam, as well as travel restrictions and periodic lockdowns. The rearranged fair will take place at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi, with the new dates to be announced in due course. “Given the current situation in Vietnam, this step is in the best interest of all parties,” says Ms Regina Tsai, General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd – Taiwan Branch. Spurring more activity “In close contact with the exhibition venue, and in consultation with key stakeholders groups, we are working to find an appropriate timeslot for the fair to return as soon as it’s feasible. In the meantime, we would like to thank the safety and security community for their continued support.”  The organizers are therefore focusing their attention on maximizing opportunities for business As the government’s vaccine program has recently been rolled out, the local economy is expected to rebound, spurring more activity in the safety and security sectors. The organizers are therefore focusing their attention on maximizing opportunities for business and networking, with a particular focus on the northern market. Important basic needs The rescheduled fair will be held in Hanoi for the first time since 2016, allowing exhibitors to connect with more project owners and system integrators from the north of the country. Safety and security are increasingly important basic needs and, therefore, stand for a growing global market. With twelve trade fairs, congresses, and forums around the world, Messe Frankfurt brings together demand and supply worldwide with progressive, connected products, applications, and services focusing on commercial security and the protection of buildings, spaces, and people. The safety, security & fire business cluster offers access to the dynamic markets of the Arabian Peninsula, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Global MSC Security announces that Fraser Sampson, the Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, will call upon local authorities to prioritize human rights, when investing taxpayers money into new CCTV equipment. He will make the keynote address at the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition, which is taking place in Bristol on Tuesday 19th October 2021. The Commissioner will use the platform to urge procurement processes to give equal attention to human rights and the assurance of an ethical supply chain together with costs. Surveillance camera systems It is clear that operators and purchasers of such systems need direction and guidance" Fraser Sampson states: “Some of the camera systems being made available from outside the United Kingdom are highly competitive and cost-effective and are therefore attractive at both local and national government level.” He adds: “It is unsurprising that some of the surveillance camera systems attracting attention are becoming popular with public services as they will probably excel in meeting the relevant criteria in the procurement scoring process.” The Commissioner continues: “Direct corporate complicity in the furtherance of human rights abuses in the specific context of surveillance camera technology has been raised directly by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.” He adds: “It is clear that operators and purchasers of such systems need direction and guidance.” Citing a tryptic approach to the use and deployment of CCTV equipment the Commissioner recommends asking is it technologically possible? Is it legally permissible? And is it societally acceptable? Cost-Effective camera Managing Director of Global MSC Security, Derek Maltby, comments: “Many local authorities we work with seek advice as to the most cost-effective camera systems to purchase with taxpayers money, but which are also socially acceptable having regard to human rights and cyber security. Guidance and leadership from the Biometric and Surveillance Camera Commissioner will provide the direction needed.”

The physical security market continues to experience growth as users look to capitalize on the promises of emerging technologies and because of this, 2017 proved to be a great year for Oncam. In fact, this year was the best year in Oncam's history in terms of sales, as 360-degree fisheye cameras have gone from being a “specialty” camera used only in certain applications to a primary device for enabling total situational awareness. Today, many of our customers leverage 360-degree cameras exclusively to provide extensive coverage inside a facility or in a large outdoor area, with traditional narrow field-of-view cameras used only at “choke” points. Increase In Cybersecurity Threats And Breaches At the end of 2016, we predicted a major trend this year would be an increase in cybersecurity concerns for users of physical security systems, and we were right. An increase in cybersecurity threats and breaches have put organizations on watch. Based on this and the adoption of more IT-centric infrastructure and protocols, there is significant collaboration between IT and physical security, and true “convergence” is finally starting to happen. The adoption of video analytics also continued to increase this year, as most video surveillance projects involved the use of some form of analytics and data analysis. Demand For Safeguards As we move into 2018, the trends of 2017 will roll over, and cybersecurity will continue to be a major issue. Suppliers of hardware and software will put an even greater emphasis being cyber secure and end users will increasingly demand safeguards. Additionally, the deployment and use of advanced analytics based on newer artificial intelligence-based technologies will continue to increase. It will be the technology providers that find ways to allow users to capture additional value from the information collected by security systems that will accelerate growth. Oncam made significant investments in new products that leverage analytics and cloud technologies. In 2018, we will continue to invest in the development of new products, with a focus on solutions for particular applications across industry segments. Beyond our technology advancements, we've invested significantly in boosting our sales force in the Americas and adding industry experts to ensure sustained customer and partner success with our solutions. From our vantage point, Oncam is well positioned to capitalize on opportunities for growth in the coming year.

Cultural and hospitality venues are attractive targets for terrorists due to their public accessibility Over the past 40 years there have been numerous attacks carried out against cultural and hospitality venues in the furtherance of religious, ideological, criminal or political beliefs. By default, cultural and hospitality venues are attractive targets for terrorists due to their public accessibility, the volumes of visitors and guests or because of what the venue represents; in short because they are ‘soft targets’.Examples of such attacks include the destruction of the Buddha’s of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by Mullah Omar, the 2015 attack on the Bardo museum in Tunis, the coordinated attacks in Mumbai through to the recent attack on a Berlin Christmas market where an tractor-trailer was used as a weapon.So how can we protect these venues from terrorist attacks without making them a fortress or detracting from their main functionality?Understanding Terrorist ThreatsWhen implementing protective strategies, the first thing I need to understand is what threats exist and what risks they poses to the organization or individual being protected. In this case the threat source is terrorism. What is terrorism? There are many different definitions of terrorism but the one that I have used for over 30 years is: “The unlawful use, or threat of violence to achieve political or ideological aims.” This differs from organized crime which may use terror but is concerned with financial reward and gain. I define a terrorist as “Somebody who knowingly takes part in, supports or assists an act of terrorism.”The next stage is understanding the ways in which the threats can impact the organization and the risks that exist from known, or anticipated attack methodologies. While the threat from traditional attack methods continue; car bombs, grenades, firearms etc., these are by no means the only threats that should be considered. The 9/11 attacks used aeroplanes, a boat was used against the US Cole and in 2016 a lorry was used to devastating effect to kill 86 and physically injure over 400 civilians during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice, France.Introducing Protective Security MeasuresOnce understood, the risks and vulnerabilities that exist for each attack method can be assessed and categorized. This allows protective security measures to be introduced that reduce the likelihood or impact of any attack that takes place. For ease, I categorize the protective security measures in one of four ways: Physical measures Operational (procedural) measures Technical measures Educational measures These measures should be overarching and work collaboratively with each other to create defense in depth and increasing resilience and robustness. The idea being to provide a means of protecting assets and deterring, detecting and delaying attackers, while increasing response capabilities. Once understood, the risks and vulnerabilities that exist for each attack method can be assessed and categorised Museums, hotels, bars and restaurants are places where people go to for relaxation and pleasure. Therefore, the implementation of security measures must be carefully considered so that the organization is still able to function without destroying or negatively impacting the customer experience. Understanding an organization’s risk appetite and tolerance levels are almost as important as the security measures that are introduced to protect them.Physical Security OptionsPhysical security measures include barriers, fences, secure doors and windows. They can also include security personnel and the creation of stand-off and vehicle mitigation measures. CPTED methodologies and design practices are a great means of preventing certain attack types and creating better response capabilities. In some countries, security personnel can be armed, but not in all. During the 2017 New Year celebration attack at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul an armed police officer and 35,000 on duty police could not prevent the attack that resulted in 39 deaths.Although technical security measures may not deter or really delay terrorist attacks (unless used as part of a physical security measure) CCTV, search equipment and access control systems do provide an ability to identify pre-attack activity including surveillance and penetrative testing.Security Education For StaffAn organization’s operational practices and procedures are a great protective security resource. Levels of alertness, introduction of surveillance detection program involvement of all staff in the security program, correct search procedures and robust access control to reduce the target attractiveness of the venue.Security education can enable 100 people to be involved in a surveillance detection program instead of just the security team Security education is often either forgotten or not considered by many as a fundamental security measure. Security education allows staff to understand the security measures that exist, why they exist, the actions they are to take and the part that they can play in protecting themselves, visitors and venues from attack. Security education can enable 100 people to be involved in a surveillance detection program instead of just the security team and help staff understand suspicious activities and reporting practices. Security education helps deliver and maximize the effectiveness of each of the other security measures that are introduced.Proactive PlanningAn organization has to be realistic in its approach to protection from acts of terrorism. The likelihood of preventing a terrorist attack is low, fact. Unless intelligence was available or surveillance detected the first a venue would know about it would be the attack itself. However, there is still an ability to make a significant impact in protecting visitors, staff, physical assets and reputation. These include: Proactive immediate response planning Establishing a recovery plan Providing welfare and medical support to victims. Indirect victims may include first responders, crisis and emergency management teams and families of direct and indirect victims I still find organizations and venues that do not have emergency or crisis management plans that are specific and fit for purpose. Not only is it critical that a plan exists but also that senior management know and understand the actions that they need to take. Plans should be exercised so that the operational, tactical and strategic elements are being tested and where vulnerabilities are identified steps are taken to reduce or mitigate them.Recovery planning is a vital part of your crisis management practices. Is there a fall-back location, can there be partial opening, what systems are operable and will they function off-site? The sooner an organization or venue can normalize operations the speedier the recovery will be. The longer it takes to recover, the increased risks to an organization’s operations, finance and reputation.Welfare and medical support is not just about those directly impacted by the terrorist attack it also includes the indirect victims; first responders, crisis and emergency management teams, families of direct and indirect victims. Consider counseling, establishing outreach program, town hall meetings and lessons learned. Consider the welfare benefits of senior management visiting the scene, speaking with victims and being there to reopen the venue. Often it is not the physical effects that impact an organization but the psychological effects and trauma suffered, often over many months or years by staff.It has to be remembered that governments spend billions of dollars on counter terrorist programs but they are not able to thwart all attacks Creating A Security CultureTo conclude, the chances that your organization or venue will become the victim of a terrorist attack are very slim and will normally depend on two factors; what you are doing and where you are doing it. It has to be remembered that governments spend billions of dollars on counter terrorist program but they are not able to thwart all attacks; neither can you.Implementing sensible, risk based security measures means that resources are not being wasted unnecessarily. Including as many members of staff as possible in educational and detection program helps create a ‘security culture’ that everybody buys into.“Failure to plan, is planning to fail!” Is a saying that has stuck with me since the early 1980’s. While you may not be able to prevent terrorist attacks, by ensuring your venue has appropriate plans to respond in a proactive manner the greater the opportunity to reduce the risks and resuming activities in a timely manner. Infographic: How To Prepare For Active Shooter Incidents 

Major art heists often feature audacity that defeats even the most thorough security protocols   Museum security, like art, is ever-changing. Traditional security practices like manned guarding alone are not sufficient to keep thieves at bay. Modern security technologies such as video surveillance, motions detectors, intruder alarms and other physical security devices also play an equally important role in securing museums and its art work. Regrettably, having all these security measures in place does not always guarantee safety and thieves sometimes still manage to steal art work through deceptive tactics. “The Mona Lisa” by Leonardo, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch (twice, but two different versions), “Poppy Flowers” by van Gogh (twice), “Harlequin Head” by Picasso, and “Jacob de Gheyn III” by Rembrandt (a staggering four times). What do these paintings have in common? They have all been stolen from museums. Museum Security – Best Practices Any museum director must strike a delicate balance between providing a sanctuary and a showplace for art works. Galleries seek both to protect and to welcome. For the legitimate visitor, museum security should be nearly invisible. For the would-be criminal, it should be apparent, but not so obvious as to make hostile reconnaissance a worthwhile practice. Spend a few hours in a selection of galleries in any major city and you’ll note that on the whole, attendants are indeed welcoming. They tend to be amiable blazered men in their 60s who are filling in time while on a pension from a former career in the police or armed forces. You would back them to prove zealous in confiscating a selfie-stick from a tourist (largely banned, though frequently still used) but might be less confident of the outcome if they had to confront a determined thief or vandal. Galleries need guards who are physically strong, observant and not beyond early middle age. (A standard gag among criminals is that staff are often of the same vintage as the exhibits they are guarding.) Michael Daley, director of ArtWatch UK, makes the pragmatic point that gallery curators should assess thoroughly the security measures at any museum that they are going to entrust with a loan item. In 1994, the Tate in London lent two paintings by Turner to a museum in Frankfurt that shares its premises with a music college and at the time had no perimeter security. The Turners were stolen by thieves working for Serbian gangsters and a ransom in excess of $4.5 million was paid by Tate from charitable monies with little attempt made at apprehending the criminals. One of the paintings was recovered from the garage of a Frankfurt mechanic who had a sideline as a Dean Martin impersonator. Yes, really. CCTV Vs. Human Response A standard gag among criminals is that staff are often of the same vintage as the exhibits they are guarding The consensus among curators that technology has much to offer but will never replace the human response is difficult to argue with, but only if we are confident that guards will prove to be consistently alert and conscientious. Skepticism about the merits of video surveillance prompts many museums to pay more attention to installing CCTV in their gift shops than in the exhibition halls. Traditional curators are also reluctant to allow a battery anywhere near a painting for fear that acid may be leaked. They argue that unless CCTV is scrutinised non-stop by guards (and few institutions have the manpower for this) it merely gives a record of the theft. This was the case three years ago when a Salvador Dali painting was taken from a brand-new gallery on Madison Avenue. Management had a high-resolution clip from an IP camera and little else to go on. Use Of Proximity Alarms The principal focus of London-based ArtWatch UK is to protect works from inappropriate restoration techniques and careless or demeaning treatment. But Michael Daley naturally keeps an eye on security issues and has some horror stories to relate that suggest proximity alarms are not being used. He says: “Only recently I was shown a photograph of a curator signing a form by placing the paper on the vertical surface of a Rembrandt.” He continues: “At a preeminent gallery in the U.S., I saw a group of teenagers having their photograph taken and being instructed to keep moving back so that they could all be in the frame. They ended up leaning against a canvas with one boy’s elbow depressing it sharply. Only when I shouted at them did either the guard or their teacher notice what was happening.” London’s National Gallery Theft Incident Museum parlance for somebody who enters a gallery as a visitor through the normal route and remains after hours is a “stay behind.” A bizarre theft involving a stay behind (possibly better categorized as a protest rather than a serious attempt to steal) occurred at London’s National Gallery early one morning in August 1961. As part of a campaign against the perceived injustice of low-income pensioners being charged to buy a license to watch public television broadcasts, Kempton Bunton eased his way out of a bathroom window leading on to Trafalgar Square carrying a portrait bust of Napoleon by Goya under his arm. He had arrived as a regular visitor the previous day and hidden overnight. Bunton had done his research and was aware that the gallery’s infrared motion sensors were switched off while cleaners readied the building for the day. A disabled former bus driver in his 60s and weighing 240 pounds, he was an unlikely burglar. The next time you watch the Bond film Dr No (shot six months after the theft) look for Sean Connery walking past an oil painting in the villain’s underwater Jamaican headquarters. “So that’s where it went!” The painting was returned safely in 1965 when, with an anticlimactic gesture, Bunton deposited it at the left luggage lockers of a Birmingham railway station. Scepticism about the merits ofvideo surveillance promptsmany museums to pay moreattention to installing CCTV intheir gift shops than in theexhibition halls Biggest Art Theft In US History Major art heists often feature audacity that defeats even thorough security protocol. An unsolved 1990 theft at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum involving 13 paintings valued at $500 million began when a pair of criminals presented themselves at the gallery door late at night dressed as policemen and claiming they were responding to a call amid the hoopla of St Patrick’s Day celebrations. They were buzzed in and one of the two duty guards foolishly left his desk (which featured a panic button.) Both guards soon found themselves duct-taped to pipes in the basement. The theft is the largest ever art haul and included Rembrandt’s only seascape, “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.” This painting remains in our popular culture, being seen in films and even featuring in an episode of “The Simpsons.” "They have cameras at McDonald’s But we weren’t allowed to install them" Ingenuity can also extend to diversionary tactics and escape methods. In December 2000, criminals brought an already busy Stockholm city center to gridlock by abandoning a pair of cars outside major hotels and setting them afire. Meanwhile, at the National Museum, their colleagues stole a Rembrandt and two Renoirs, making their getaway along the river Norrström in a tatty second-hand speedboat they had bought a few days earlier. In a remarkably blunt and no doubt emotional press conference, Agneta Karlström of the museum said: “They have cameras at McDonald’s but we weren’t allowed to install them.” Staying in Scandinavia, art security specialists noted a depressing development in Oslo in 2004 when one of the several versions of “The Scream” painted by Edvard Munch was stolen from the Munch Museum. Thieves had been armed before but in this case they were wielding machine guns during opening hours and gave the impression they would not hesitate to use them.

Maritime Culture Center is a branch of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, Poland. The Maritime Culture Center (MCC) promotes information on maritime subjects in a comprehensive and interactive way by employing multimedia techniques. The main attraction of MCC is a permanent interactive room called ‘People-Ships-Ports.’ Another exhibition, ‘Boats of People of the World,’ is a rich collection of boats, varying from an Eskimo kayak to a Venetian gondola. The MCC also organises temporary exhibitions on popular maritime topics. Embedded access control The MCC needed an intrusion system with embedded access control for more than 400 alarm zones, 55 areas, and 25 doors. Vanderbilt SPC’s offered a reliable system that can be expanded to include a large number of alarm zones. Solutions provided: SPC6300 with 38 input expanders (SPCE652). 18 2 door expanders (SPCA210). 13 keypads (SPCK420). 5 RF-expanders (SPCW130). “Due to installing Vanderbilt’s SPC system, the museum is safe. The system meets our expectations in the field of security. Thanks to their wireless equipment (receivers and detectors) we can protect the exhibits in the temporary exhibition. Vanderbilt turned out to be a very helpful company in installing and programming the security system in the building of the museum,” said Michał Drobczyński of Maritime Culture Center.

IDIS end-to-end video is protecting a new, purpose-built visitor center at Canterbury Cathedral, part of a $34 million renovation project transforming one of the UK’s most important UNESCO Heritage sites. The seven-year program, preserving and safeguarding the fifteen-centuries-old masterpiece of English Gothic architecture – and mother church of the worldwide Anglican communion - includes the addition of a new, purpose-built welcome center for visitors. The center, housing retail facilities, a viewing gallery, and community studio exhibition space, is protected with a best-in-class video solution which combines discrete monitoring with high-performance image capture. Real time monitoring Specialist systems integrator Hall & Kay Security Engineering was tasked with delivering a solution that would be affordable, easy-to-use, and allow for comprehensive real time monitoring, while ensuring reliable recording without data loss. And because this was part of a much wider project, the video technology also had to be fast and easy to install – essential for avoiding project overruns in this complex, multidisciplinary construction environment, and preventing any delays to the new welcome center’s opening. This IDIS Korean-made tech also gives Canterbury assurance of trusted manufacturing origin Based on previous experience, Hall & Kay had no hesitation recommending IDIS end-to-end tech, incorporating cameras, recorders VMS, and essential peripherals. This IDIS Korean-made tech also gives Canterbury assurance of trusted manufacturing origin and high-level cybersecurity protection, with its inherent, multi-layered encryptions and proprietary protocols to safeguard sensitive video data. Variable lighting conditions To give high-definition video coverage of the Welcome Center’s entrances, retail area and exhibition spaces, Hall & Kay installed IDIS Full HD DC-4223WRX IR dome cameras. These vandal-resistant models come equipped with varifocal lenses, true WDR and IR LED to deliver crisp, clear images even in challenging and variable lighting conditions. They connect to three 16-channel DD-1216 NVRs to handle recording and deliver 480ips live view with no visible latency. Easy plug-and-play allowed for seamless and rapid connectivity and mutual two-factor authentication of devices streamlined cybersecurity measures, the cornerstone of IDIS DirectIP® solutions. Specific user permissions The IDIS cameras, NVRs and VMS discretely blend with the center’s architecture The license-free IDIS Center VMS gives the cathedral Constable and his security team complete visual awareness and easy control tools for efficient management, plus the ability to configure specific user permissions to give senior staff and system administrators timely access to video footage. The IDIS cameras, NVRs and VMS discretely blend with the center’s architecture without detracting from the visitor experience, while providing effective real-time monitoring. “The solution is now protecting property, enhancing safety for visitors and staff, and providing a complete record of events at one of the UK’s busiest and most important heritage sites,” says David Stokes, Divisional Director, Hall & Kay Security Engineering. Compelling business case “The IDIS end-to-end solution allowed us to present this important customer with a compelling business case, with no up-front or ongoing licensing fees, extended warranties and a low total cost of ownership. The solution is also highly flexible and scalable, thanks to long-term hardware support and forward- and backward-compatibility, which future-proofs the cathedra’s investment.” “The choice of IDIS video for this most sensitive of sites is testament to the reliability, quality and cybersecurity of our Korean-made tech,” adds Jamie Barnfield, Senior Sales Director, IDIS Europe. “This is just one of many projects we are working on with Hall & Kay in-line with the IDIS philosophy of building sustainable strategic partnerships with integrators and end user customers.”

Custom Consoles announces the completion of a six-bay security control room desk from its SteelBase range for one of the most prestigious museums in the Middle East. The project also includes a large MediaWall multiscreen video display mounting system and Ergotron desk-mounted monitor arms. “SteelBase and MediaWall continue to be a popular choice for security and process control applications in Europe and around the world,” says Custom Consoles’ sales manager Gary Fuller. “The desk we have provided in this case is a 4.25 meter wide rectangular unit configured for use by two or three operators.” MediaWall Each of its six bays holds computers and related devices which can be reached easily via front or rear access doors" “It faces straight on to the MediaWall with sufficient space between the two to allow access for routine maintenance of installed equipment. Each of its six bays holds computers and related devices which can be reached easily via front or rear access doors. The installed MediaWall supports eight large display screens in a four wide by two high configuration.” “It is augmented by Ergotron monitor support arms mounted to the rear of bays one, two, five, and six. Each arm is capable of holding a flat panel display of typically 24 inches diagonal screen size. These can be used to view the output from the remote cameras.” “The desk surface above bays three and four is left clear to accommodate additional equipment. Worktop facilities along the desk include camera controllers plus communications panels.” Efficient monitoring "SteelBase was developed to withstand round-the-clock use, every day of the year,” adds Custom Consoles’ managing director Neil Reed. “It also offers high ergonomic efficiency, meaning it is comfortable to use during long duty sessions. When installed alongside MediaWall, it allows efficient monitoring of activity across a very wide area, including multiple rooms and multiple sites. The combination has proved a popular and effective choice for security, defense and process control applications in many countries.” Custom Consoles’ SteelBase is a high-strength desking system to withstand the demands of heavy-industry Custom Consoles’ SteelBase is a high-strength desking system developed to withstand the demands of heavy-industry. Built around steel frames with hinged lockable front and rear doors, SteelBase can be configured for use by individual operators or teams of practically any number without the cost and long delivery time usually associated with project-specific furniture. Cable management Each bay includes a sliding shelf which gives easy access to internally stowed PCs. Predrilled monitor arm mounting points are positioned at the rear upper edge of each bay. Cable management features include a removable worktop section with dual brush strips providing an uninterrupted cable exit for telephones, monitor cables, and computer peripherals. Integral cableways allow heavy-duty wiring to be fully concealed within the desk structure while retaining easy access for routine maintenance or adjustment. Cables can be routed laterally across and between bays as well as vertically to floor level. Internal 19-inch racking is available as a standard feature. Desktop equipment pods can be specified if required. Careful attention has also been paid to styling with a choice of front, side, and desktop finishes. SteelBase desktops are available in a choice of 120 cm (standard) or 100 cm (SteelBase Lite) front-to-back sizes with a choice of hard-wearing Marmoleum or laminate work surfaces. All elements are guaranteed against component failure for five years of normal use. Continuous horizontal display Individual or multiple frames can be used in fully self-supporting configurations or coupled directly to a wall Developed for use in technical control rooms, Custom Consoles’ MediaWall allows flat-screen monitor displays of practically any size to be constructed from standard horizontal and vertical support elements. Individual or multiple frames can be used in fully self-supporting configurations or coupled directly to a wall. Screens can be positioned so that the edges meet exactly to form a continuous horizontal display limited only by the boundary of the monitor panel. All wiring is fully concealed and can enter or leave the structure at any desired point. MediaWall is available in any required element widths. All Custom Consoles desks can optionally be fitted with Ergotron monitor arms. The LX Arm is available in single-monitor, vertically stacked dual-monitor, and side-by-side dual monitor versions. The lateral and tilt angle of all Ergotron arms can be separately adjusted to match each operator’s preference. A proprietary support mechanism allows the mounted display to be lifted, tilted, or horizontally swung. All LX arms are supplied with clamp and through-fixing options. Each arm is constructed from durable polished aluminum. Longevity is a key feature, typically 10 times the expected life-cycle of competing brands.

After around nine years of construction, the Humboldt Forum is gradually opening its doors. In the heart of Berlin's historic center, it was set up as a modern space for culture and science. Modern also describes its intelligent digital locking system which will secure the new events and meeting center. eCLIQ locking system The electronic eCLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions meets high-security standards and offers not only contemporary management, but also full flexibility for targeted and convenient control of the Forum’s numerous different user and visitor groups. Located at a historic location between Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz — right next to Museum Island, Humboldt University, and Berlin Cathedral — the Humboldt Forum is a new cultural house in the historic and cultural heart of Berlin. Over more than 42,000 square meters, it will offer space for exchange and diversity in the future and, thanks to its open building concept, will also act as a new public space for Berlin. Uniting traditional and modern The final decision on reconstruction was taken in summer 2002 by a large cross-party majority in the German Bundestag. The Humboldt Forum owes its current appearance, a vibrant contrast between baroque and contemporary architecture, to a reinterpretation by Italian architect Franco Stella, who triumphed in a 2008 international architecture competition for the reconstruction. With three reconstructed baroque façades, the building incorporates large parts of the Berlin Palace heavily damaged in the Second World War and combines them with modern style elements. Breaks in the history of the site are thus reflected in the story of the place and the programmatic core of the Forum itself. The new pedestrian passage across the Forum connects the pleasure garden in the north with the palace square in the south Urban spaces Stella's design is also impressed by its urban integration with open urban spaces. Two of the inner courtyards will be open 24 hours a day: the so-called "passage" and the "Schlüterhof". The newly designed passage, a pedestrian passage across the Forum, connects the pleasure garden in the north with the palace square in the south. Restructuring plans The Schlüterhof, in turn, was largely reconstructed according to the plans of baroque architect and sculptor Andreas Schlüter. With his renovation of the Berlin Palace in the 18th century, Schlüter had a major impact on its appearance today. The Humboldt Forum is named after the brother's Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt. Their curiosity and ability to explore the world with open eyes are the inspiration behind the artistic and scientific program. In addition to three core themes, history and architecture of the location, the Humboldt brothers, as well as colonialism and coloniality, current socio-political issues are also at the forefront. Simple and flexible The Forum's premises are used and accessed by many employees, placed high demands on security technology  As a modern cultural hub with presentations, exhibitions, and events, the Humboldt Forum will also house the globally important collections of the Ethnologisches Museum (Ethnological Museum) and the Asiatisches Museum (Museum of Asian Art) of the Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin (Berlin State Museums), the Humboldt Lab of the Humbold-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University of Berlin) and the Berlin Global exhibition of the Stadtmuseum Berlin (Berlin City Museum). The fact that the Forum's premises are used so differently and are accessed by many employees, service providers, and numerous external visitors at different times, placed high demands on security technology for adequate protection of the building. A solution was required that not only offered a very high security standard, but also uncomplicated management of access authorizations. Electronic locking system As the building owner, the Humboldt Forum decided on an intelligent, digital eCLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY, and commissioned Weckbacher Sicherheitssysteme GmbH for the challenging planning, delivery, and installation of the project. The electronic locking system is distinguished by robust, durable, and secures components, as well as its compact form and striking design. Modern locking concept The keys and cylinders of the modular locking solution are perfectly compatible with the stringent design-oriented requirements and installation situations of the doors in the Humboldt Forum — and thus optimally integrate into its sophisticated new building concept. The key factor, however, was that this locking system offers contemporary management with full flexibility. Easy and quick access Regularly changing access authorizations can be quickly and easily defined with eCLIQ, for example for changing exhibitions. Any keys that are lost or which people forget to return or knowingly do not return can be deactivated just as easily via the system. Regularly changing access authorizations can be quickly and easily defined with eCLIQ, for example for changing exhibitions Authorizations with time and room restrictions can also be configured, allowing administrators to grant cleaning staff access at specific times, for example. The master key system can be managed directly by the Humboldt Forum via an easily scalable and flexible cloud-based platform administered by the CLIQ® Web Manager. A strong partner for security A total of around 1,500 intelligent programmable eCLIQ locking cylinders were installed in the new structure, which, including its basement and roof terrace, has a total floor area of around 97,000 m2. In addition, 700 intelligent battery-powered keys are made available to the Humboldt Forum Foundation to enable all authorized persons to access the building. "In this context, intelligent means that the keys used only close and open door to which access is also programmed. Lost keys are simply deleted and new, customized access profiles are assigned. This means that security and locking convenience with the eCLIQ master key system are state-of-the-art," explains Jannis Hlous, Project Manager at Weckbacher responsible for work on the Humboldt Forum. This traditional Dortmund Company for locking systems has strong knowledge of public building projects at this scale and, as ASSA ABLOY's long-standing specialist partner, has over 70 years of experience in security equipment for large building systems.

Qognify has announced that VisionHub is being trusted and relied upon by six departments at the University of Vermont - one of the oldest universities in the U.S. The VMS+ is fully integrated and operational across the University’s on-campus install base of 459 video channels (predominantly AXIS IP cameras) and CBORD’s CS Access system. It has been instrumental in helping to reduce unnecessary on-site attendance, as part of the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. VisionHub VisionHub is a VMS+ that enables organizations in critical and highly regulated environments to effectively and efficiently respond to security threats, and mitigate the impact of incidents. It centralizes, integrates, and organizes core physical security systems and sensors into a single video-centric interface, providing heightened situational awareness and powerful incident response management capabilities. Senior Equipment Technician at the University of Vermont, Robert Cochran, explains the reason for deploying VisionHub. Robert said, “We looked closely at different PSIM systems and while they were powerful, they were also very expensive and didn’t match our requirements. What we ideally wanted to find was a VMS that was capable of being our core security management system.” Video surveillance and access control integration During an emergency operations event, VisionHub is the only interface we need to assess the situation and respond" The University is realizing many benefits from having its surveillance cameras and access control tightly integrated. These range from managing real-time emergency events to conducting post-incident investigation and daily on-campus surveillance. “During an emergency operations event, VisionHub is the only interface we need to assess the situation and respond,” stated Robert Cochran, adding “We can view live and recorded camera feeds, as well as access transactions and door information, providing us with a clear real-time picture of people and crowd movement. If any intervention is required, we can control the opening and closing of doors. All of this is done within the one single clear and easy-to-use system.” Remote monitoring live camera feeds Recently, the University undertook a project to provide administrative staff working at the Fleming Museum of Art, Vermont's most comprehensive collection of art and anthropological artifacts, with the ability to monitor live camera feeds remotely. Robert Cochran adds, “VisionHub has been instrumental in helping to reduce unnecessary on-site attendance, as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, from a day-to-day maintenance perspective the VisionHub Web Client is perfect, as it eliminates the need for technicians to move around the campus, as upgrades and authorizations can all be centrally managed off-site.”

Schools present unique challenges for security and access control. But what about a school that is also a heritage site of exceptional value? The Colegio Diocesano Santo Domingo in Orihuela, Spain, is more than just a school. Its historic buildings date to the 1500s, a heritage site as well as a place of learning — with a museum that requires the protection of the same access system. The college buildings are a Resource of Cultural Interest and on Spain’s heritage registry: They must not be damaged. Wire-free electronic locks were the obvious answer.   A wireless solution SMARTair® wireless locking devices now control access through 300 doors around the school. Electronic escutcheons, knob cylinders, and wall readers (including lifts) are connected to intuitive SMARTair software by a network of 38 HUBs. The school chose SMARTair Wireless Online management for their new keyless access system. This powerful management option enables real-time control of access to and around the site, even if the school’s data network is down. Automated emails inform security staff of any incidents, keeping students, teachers, equipment, and precious heritage safe. real-time key management “The main benefit is the ease of real-time key management — from any place and at any time — via the wireless online management system,” says the school’s IT Manager, Francisco Fernández Soriano. “This increases security for children and for staff because no unauthorized people can enter the school.” In addition to the main entrances and classrooms, access to private spaces is constantly monitored “In addition to the main entrances and classrooms, access to private spaces such as lifts, offices, staff rooms, the church, the museum, the library, and the IT room is constantly monitored.” Scalable modular system Installation of the school’s SMARTair system required minimal work. Some doors date to the 16th century, so major alterations were not possible. “The system was installed without a hitch and also without any disruption to classes,” he adds. Because SMARTair is a modular system, scalability is built in. They can extend or fine-tune their access system when they choose. Indeed, the school’s “SMARTair Phase II” is already under discussion.

What a year 2020 was for the security industry! There were vast challenges that could not have been foreseen at the beginning of the year. It is safe to say that the events of 2020 defied all industry prognosticators. However, is that any reason not to hope our expectations looking ahead to 2021 will be much closer to reality? Can we possibly benefit from looking ahead and trying to plan for the challenges of the year ahead? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the security industry’s biggest challenge in 2021?

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?