India railway cops call for more video surveillance
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has sought for more Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and monitors on the central railway line under the Rs 2172.13-lakh Integrated Security Service (ISS) project. The RPF says the present number is not sufficient to monitor the number of people commuting on the Central Railway.
From Security InfoWatch, August 17, 2010
Surveillance Cameras and the Right to Privacy
Every minute a car is stolen. Every day across the country 44 people are murdered and nearly 3,800 are victims of violent crimes. While crime usually rises during a recession, that's not the case now. Nationwide, violent crimes are down 5.5 percent. Crimes like murder declined 7.2 percent, robbery 8.1 percent, motor vehicle theft down 17.2 percent.
Law enforcement officials say the increased use of high-tech tools to fight crime is a big reason why.
From CBS News, August 13, 2010
Seattle Cuts Red Tape by Putting Public Safety Antennas Atop Public Housing
Placing wireless antennas and towers throughout a city can be a bureaucratic nightmare. Few citizens want 60- to 70-foot structures planted in front of their homes.
Some cities like Seattle are finding ways to altogether avoid this common "not in my backyard" conundrum. Seattle Chief Technology Officer Bill Schrier struck a deal with the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) to install Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless antennas atop the SHA's public housing, many of which are apartment buildings. Fire stations in some parts of the city will also take the antennas.
From Digital Communities, August 12, 2010
New York City to install more subway surveillance cameras
About 1,000 subway security cameras will be set up by the end of next year to help catch New York subway criminals, local media reported on Monday.
There are now 3,100 subway security cameras in operation, including about 900 that went online in June. Another thousand will be set up by the end of next year to help solve subway crimes, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) told the local media.
From Security InfoWatch, August 10, 2010
Technology Bolsters Arizona's Border Security Efforts
Before 2007, the Sheriff's Department in Pima County, Ariz., had no border crime unit and no official operation to track and seize illegal immigrants sneaking into the U.S.
But that would change. By mid-2007, the border crime unit came into existence, supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's regional efforts to secure one of the busiest sectors on the Southwest border.
From Digital Communiities, August 10, 2010
State grant funds can be used to maintain previously purchased homeland security equipment
The House Committee on Homeland Security has approved legislation that would enable state, local and tribal governments to use a portion of their homeland security grant monies to maintain their previously purchased equipment.
From Government Security News, July 27, 2010
Homeland security market to grow at more than 5% annually, concludes HSRC
The combined U.S. market for homeland security products and services – purchased by federal, state and local governments, the intelligence community and the private sector – will increase from $69 billion in 2010 to $84 billion in 2014 – a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 5.1 percent.
From Governmenty Security News, July 22, 2010
NYC anti-terror cameras
Video surveillance has many limitations, as seen during the recent bombing scare in NYC. Surveillance has certainly improved vastly since 9/11, but in the case of the Times Square attempted bombing, the man captured on video surveillance was not the person eventually apprehended.
From Government Security News, July 21, 2010
Arizona Halts Photo Enforcement of Speed Laws
At the first tick of the clock Friday, an array of automated cameras on Arizona freeways aimed at catching speeders were to stop clicking.
There is no glitch. The state, the first to adopt such cameras on its highways in October 2008, has become the first to pull the plug, bowing to the wishes of a vocal band of conservative activists who complained that photo enforcement intruded on privacy and was mainly designed to raise money.
From The New York Times, July 15, 2010
Recovery Is Here… For Surveillance Gear
More than 9 percent year-over-year growth? That kind of performance would make most industries and countries jump for joy. But that's what's happening in the worldwide market for video surveillance equipment in 2010, according to a new report from England-based IMS Research.
“Whilst the economic downturn did impact the global video surveillance equipment market in 2009, fiscal stimuli from governments and the inherent demand for video surveillance equipment mitigated the magnitude of the impact,” said report author and IMS Research analyst Gary Wong.
From Government Video, July 14, 2010
