Writing this in the dark days

Well, to people in the security industry May does not necessarily bring to mind the rising sap of springtime, the awakening of flora and fauna, the gamboling lambs in the field, the twittering of newly hatched tits. It conjures up that other pivotal "awakening" ... IFSEC. Regular readers know that here at Security Installer we produce the biggest and best guide to this annual product fest and we want to keep it that way. So manufacturers ... as you, undoubtedly, want to get all your new goodies in front of the people who buy the kit, then send us details of your planned product launches asap. We know it seems early but to get your products into our big supplement, published mid April, we need them late February/early March.

Even more urgent action needs to be taken by intruder alarm users in Nottinghamshire where police have given them until April to make sure their systems offer alarm confirmation if they want a police response. According to the Fire Protection Association, most alarm installers have contacted their customers but installers report a poor response from users. That seems fairly typical of many users who will not pay any attention to the warnings until their insurance company tells them it was a requirement for cover. Whether or not you agree with the Notts police crackdown in their effort to reduce their wasted time - out of step with national ACPO policy - it can't be denied that they gave plenty of warning about their controversial decision. The deadline was extended from the original April 2005 giving two years for users to arrange for the change.

Your digital CCTV systems can only be classed as a success if they can provide evidence that helps secure a conviction. Despite the way digital recording technology has left analogue dead in the water, until now there has not been an accepted framework to address questions of image authenticity - which is why the industry should welcome a new BSIA initiative to make digital evidence totally acceptable in a court of law. The Code of Practice standardises requirements for your systems, covering issues like image quality storage, export and audit trails. Although installers should download the full code, our feature on page 28 sums it up.

The BSIA also took action this month by trying to stop the broadcast of the much publicised TV fake "heist" programme. Interesting as it was, there can be no doubt that featuring people subliminally influenced to carry out an armed street robbery was way short on responsibility, I suppose good taste and sensitivity don't really come into it on TV these days. The programme did prove that some people can be influenced to do things they would never normally consider. Let's hope it does not also prove TV can encourage a crime that has resulted in 400 couriers being injured in the last three years.