Watching out for you
- Written by Jack Harvey
Without a smidgeon of drama – who me, Guv? – in 2008 criminal activity in the Algarve grew quicker than any normal predictions and, as the economic crisis. It may seem very ‘twee’ of me to say this, but I’ve seen it all before - with slight variations to the types of crime.
Unfortunately the fall out from the criminal activities here in the south will impact on the Algarve’s livelihood of investment and tourism, just when the economy needs all the visitors it can get.
We must move with the times and once again read the wake up calls and protect what we have. Whether it’s our home or business, it is time to be aware of the threats. I keep yakking on (and on) about these signals (nope, not little voices in my head!) and once again underline the importance of basic security – whether it is good housekeeping, not leaving cash and jewellery laying around, a small safe for money and valuables, an alarm system, closed circuit television or even just locking the front door. This is now the time to PLEASE (PLEASE) be pro-active!
Closed circuit television
CCTV surveillance is a sensitive subject – particularly in a holiday resort area – but it is a proven and powerful deterrent which has been around for some time now and with video transmission technology now easier and more affordable, will eventually replace the burglar alarm. Alarms have their place; however, I personally prefer pro-activity rather than re-activity and do not want to know someone is in my house – I want to know they are outside and that someone is on the way to sort them out! Ergo, CCTV remote monitoring. Surveillance of public areas in the UK by CCTV was first developed in response to the IRA bombings. In the early 80s Bournemouth was the main area for Conservative Party ‘get-togethers’ and became the focus for the first major trial programme for external surveillance. In the early 90s, when the UK first ‘bounced’ camera systems onto the public domain and attracted every action group out to stop public surveillance, I recall at the time, John Major said something like: “I have no doubt we will hear some protest about the threat to civil liberties,” and continued, “Well, I have no sympathy whatsoever for so-called liberties of that kind.” (Rock on, John!) It is hard to believe that in just under two decades, there are now more than six million cameras operational throughout Great Britain.
Most important of all – particularly with video transmission technology easier and more affordable – CCTV surveillance security, love it or hate it, is here – and, as Portugal begins to recognise its effectiveness in relation to crime prevention – it is here to stay!
At home
Today’s modern houses with installed entertainment systems and television sets dotted around can easily have security surveillance integrated into them. External and/or internal camera units can be fed into a digital video recorder (DVR) unit with multiple camera pictures displayed on a single screen. From there video can be fed into the entertainment system. The ‘security surveillance’ channel can be selected on any television by using the remote control, flipping from Eastenders to house perimeter, nursery or swimming pool.
Remote CCTV monitoring has been around for quite a while throughout Europe and is now rapidly developing here in the Algarve. The benefits to home owners, resort management and villa management agents are legion with the only limits being the user’s innovation.
Video motion detection (VMD) is the key ‘gidget’ (Jack speak for a gizmo that’s a gadget), acting as a movement detector, which when initiated identifies the change in pixels (not the little green fellas with curled up toes in their slippers but), the multiple coloured dots on your television screen. This ‘gidget’ memorises the layout of the pixels and any changes in the picture – like a human target moving into the frame – will provide a trigger which can operate a local sounder to alert the user that their security picture has changed. This surveillance detection can be directed around the house with the electronic barrier close against the fabric of the building. If the owners are in the lounge and the urgent tone sounds they can flip to the security channel and see what caused the alert.
When the system is connected to a central monitor, the CCTV can be armed (pretty much in the same way as the intruder alarm is set) and in the event of an activation a SMS (Short Message Signal) via a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications – ‘mobile phone thingy’ to us mortals), advises the monitoring centre that a camera has been triggered. A trained operator can access the system remotely and visually assess the situation and take necessary action.
I always go on (and on! and on! AND ON!) about the changes of local criminal activity and put out strong messages that the Algarve security scene is changing fast and that vigilance and surveillance is the order of the day, even though Portugal still holds a pole position with the lowest crime rate in Europe.
We all know it is impossible for anyone to be in two places at the same time – but cameras can! For me, a major plus is the use of CCTV to track movements of missing children which is pretty much routine in all European major cities now and can be a most valuable asset within holiday resorts out here.
