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Recently, two criminal acts captured on CCTV went viral on the internet. The first one was the case of a therapist caught on camera abusing a 3-year-old Autistic child and the second one was the footage of a bank robbery carried out in Owerri three months earlier. By the time the video was released, the main actors of the robbery were in police custody. Reports also revealed that the video, which was used as evidence, was quite instrumental in making the arrest of the suspects possible.
While that of the therapists assaulting the child ended the continuation of using a nurse who would have gone on to cause more injury. These two videos brought about an action for justice and vigilance. Although both of these incidents will not be the first a crime would be captured on camera, its introduction into the public space brings forward the significance of electronic security in the home and its significance in a country like Nigeria.
The growing global concern on terrorist ideology and attacks, assassinations, homicide, vehicle theft, housebreaking, kidnapping, molestations, campus violence and vandalisms is influencing the demand for innovative solutions to personal safety in public places like transit, city centres, critical infrastructure, institution of learning and events. As it is, the current crime matrix shows that the usual approach to tackling crime has become unpredictable and requires a more effective intervention to deter and subdue perpetrators. This has resulted in a growing demand for electronic security.
Talking about how his company is changing perception and ensuring the safety of lives and property through electronic security, this week, Engineer Tope Adebayo, Associate Director, Electronics & Telematics at Halogen Security discusses the types, trends and benefits of electronic security as it concerns us in Nigeria.
The Quest for Effective Security and Nigeria’s Security Market
The evolving and rising nature of crimes have seen many people desiring contemporary and effective ways to monitor their businesses, homes and events. Over the years, it has become evident that man guards, the most popular response to crime have become inadequate, and newer ways are being sought to ensure a combination of electronics support to enhance the effectiveness of Man Guarding on the back of technology in creating solutions around different risk equation and demands for safety. This explains an increasing demand for electronic security, which is the use of technology and electronic devices to provide safety and security for lives, assets, and businesses, by preventing and unauthorized access to restricted premises, critical assets, and sensitive data. This is done, leveraging on contemporary electronic security systems, intrusion & panic sensors and alarms, electronic access control systems, and CCTV/Video surveillance systems and analytics.
The Nigerian market is positively responding to the electronic security market, private individual commercial establishments and government are investing on improving the quality of safety provided to people more closely. A very good factor contributing to these improvements are the wave of terror, kidnapping, some basic regulations being implemented in some sensitive sectors like FSI, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. In fact, security systems are also now adopted as a strong basics for quality certification. Commercial establishments have also adopted security systems/programs as a strategic value proposition. Security in the face of the optimism, the market is still faced with a major challenge of premature and poor infrastructure, like power, physical development and in proper planning and legislation.
The Value and the Different Types of Electronic Security
In the face of the eminent threat that now lives with us all, rate of losses will keep increasing if there are no deliberate efforts to create more value. Providing security solutions and processes that are more efficient, reliable and cost effective require understanding that there are different types of electronic security and they offer unique benefits above Guards service, as they act as a very strong enabler for Manned Guards to discharge their duties more productively.
There are different types and uses of electronic security today, one is the Intruder Alarm systems. It alerts not just the customer, but also the Control and command centre and can lead to emergency response, which could be armed or otherwise. Installing this device can improve the safety of your family, business, institution and property from break-ins or unwanted access that acts as a remote monitor of your assets.
Another is the Access Control and Perimeter control systems, which are walk through metal, trace and device detectors that help in the prevention of improvised explosive devices and bomb explosions and unnecessary gun violence at events.
Others like the Fire and Smoke alarms prevents accident while Electronic fences can prevent unwanted intrusion. Visitor management and time attendance plus surveillance systems help to keep track of who has entered or left a building for future references. Electronic gates and turnstiles control access, preventing entry to intruders threatening the safety of people and property. In situations where there is a man guard, the use of walkie-talkie can enforce a stronger security network that help in making sure the guards do their jobs better, as they can communicate with their peers and control room.
Influence of technology and the growth trend
Since the creation of the ear-piercing Burglar alarm systems, which can be credited to Edwin Holmes, an American Business Man who invented and commercialised the electromagnetic burglar alarm with establishing the first burglar alarm networks, electronic security has come a long way. Factors like stringent regulatory mandates, profound level of fear amongst the public and a demand for more cost effective and efficient measure has increased demand for electronic security.
The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has simplified the approach and made technology a critical factor in combatting the risk management deficient in every society. Technology is therefore a critical enabler in creating a sustainable Security management framework. The developed society today have invested Billions of USD Dollars in cities counties, states communities, critical infrastructure, Real Estate on electronic security systems such as CCTV surveillance system, Access control has created real value in most modern society especially with regards to public safety requirements. Nigeria is still way behind in this regard. But few discerning states like Lagos are beginning to take steps in the right direction. The System integration capability in electronic security has tremendously helped law enforcement and stakeholders in apprehending investigation and prosecution in an unprecedented manner. Most evidences produced through the platform has proven reliable.
As it is, the Electronic Security System Market is characterized by various factors. The United State of America is considered to be the largest market followed by Europe, Asia Middle East and Africa. The rising infractions is placing high demand on commercial establishments and governments to consider sophisticated advance security systems or a significant upgrade on existing systems to improve security and safety. According to “A Worldwide Business Strategy and Market Intelligence Source” (Global Industry Analysts, Inc.), the Electronics Security Global Market will be valued at $80 Billion USD by year 2020. It is envisaged that there will be a huge demand in CCTV and Video Surveillance and critical need to restrict unauthorized access due to the rising global insecurity which is considered to be borderless.
Halogen’s Effort in Electronic Security
There is the myth which suggests that security solutions make it difficult for decision makers to evaluate returns on investment. At Halogen Security Limited, we ensure that we help the process owners (Security Managers) create a compelling economic justifications whilst realigning such routine perception.
Also, knowing that the Nigerian market is still evolving towards a one-dimensional strategy, which is why the market is not growing at the appreciable ratio. Our endeavour is to stimulate the entire segment of the market to transform the service delivery in managing the risks of individuals, small, medium and large businesses and governments to create value based solutions offering that takes the overall public safety and security seriously in Nigeria. We are doing this by combining various sectors within the risk management value chain together on one platform to create unique value to our clients. This move will not only stimulate the consumer base. A managed service approach should be given consideration, this is an economical way to have a sustainable and balanced security solutions. The impact of managed service approach in the short, mid and long term, will allow for rounded value for all.
Security has become an intrinsic part of our everyday lives, and we can expect it to become even more present and ever-more covert both inside and outside our private and national assets.
