June 13th, 2004

Security That Never Sleeps [Sunday Tribune]

 

Burglar alarms don't prevent crime, and manned security is too expensive for many firms.  Carlow-based Netwatch combines the benefits of both.

Some one in two businesses have been hit by crime in recent months.  A recent report showed 46 per cent of businesses complaining of crime in the past year - theft by outsiders was reported by 49%, burglary by 35%, damage to vehicles by 31%, while 16% reported theft by their own staff.

And yet, almost all the companies surveyed in "The extent, impact and cost of crime on SMEs in Ireland" had some form of crime prevention systems in place.

Some 82% had traditional burglar alarms, 36% had CCTV systems, and 16% had manned security.

These traditional security systems do work, but to varying degrees: every business has to weigh up the costs of its security system against the results it delivers.  Having manned security patrols constantly monitoring a property on foot backed up by a sophisticated CCTV system will probably result in an almost watertight system.  But at enormous cost.

On the other hand, an alarm system may work very well in detecting unauthorised entry to a property, but it may not stop the crime, since the Gardaí may not get there in time.

Similarly, passive CCTV systems simply record what has already happened.

However, new technologies have led to the creation of a system that can deliver the advantages of intensive manned security solutions at an extremely low cost - as little as €12 per day.

Netwatch incorporates advanced alarm technology with the most modern CCTV techniques to create an intelligent security system that allows a command centre to watch the intrusion taking place and, more importantly, to speak directly to the criminal before they commit the crime.

Knowing that they are being watched and that the Gardaí have been notified is a huge deterrent - in 95% of cases recorded the intruder leaves the premises without committing a crime.

Netwatch enables companies to monitor and manage multiple remote sites from a single location.  Remote visual monitoring also minimises costly Garda call-outs.

When an intrusion takes place at a premises, live pictures of the area where the security breach has occurred are sent to the Netwatch command centre in Carlow. The Netwatch cameras can be controlled remotely to focus on different areas and they are equipped with phones and speakers, allowing the command centre to warn the intruder to stop, that the Gardaí are on the way or, indeed, to alert them to danger.

The system also allows for a high degree of liaison with the Gardaí, either to assist them in catching the intruder or; if the Garda cannot get there in time, to warn the intruder off.  And almost, invariably, the command centre staff then watch as the intruder leaves the premises as fast as possible.