| Promotional gifts distributed today may not | | | | private security industry which produce alarms |
| always be what they seem to be. Not so long | | | | such as <a rel="nofollow" |
| ago, a ball point pen arrived in the morning mail. It | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| looked like an advertisement and, of course, it | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" burglar |
| was. A covering letter, however, pointed out that | | | | alarm,intruder alarm </a> will always support |
| pens of that kind may be transmitters. They may | | | | the police, it is universally accepted that it must |
| be designed to enable strangers outside the | | | | never assume any kind of law enforcement role. |
| building to listen to private conversations. Imagine | | | | The installation of an intruder alarm at one's home |
| what that could do in a hostile take-over bid | | | | may disturb a burglar, but when it sounds, it |
| situation! The pen will not always come by post. It | | | | receives no attention unless a neighbour sees |
| would probably be left on a desk or table by a | | | | evidence of intrusion and calls the police. More |
| visitor, cleaner or other 'mole' within the company. | | | | expensive alarms connected to police control |
| The firm which sent that pen was offering its | | | | rooms may be cancelled after, say, two false |
| services. It sought to advise on security | | | | alarms. Somewhat naturally, police forces have |
| arrangements and help to develop secure | | | | been increasingly concerned with the cost of false |
| environments for confidential discussions. It was | | | | alarms. They now make sure they are treated |
| drawing attention to just one aspect of an | | | | with disdain after evidence of inefficiency. A false |
| industry which has probably the greatest growth | | | | alarm can be caused because of neglect by, |
| rate not only in Britain, but in most of the world. | | | | perhaps, members of a club who do not set |
| Until recently, security was regarded as a 'grudge' | | | | things up properly for the night. To help with this, |
| purchase. It was bought at the cheapest possible | | | | there are now private security firms who install |
| cost and when cuts had to be made during | | | | systems which alert their office and not the |
| recession, it was the first department for | | | | police. When the alarm sounds, they go out to the |
| 'economy'. Now, the escalation of crimes, fraud | | | | premises and call the police if they think it is |
| and vandalism of all kinds has increased demand | | | | necessary. |
| for protection against loss from intrusion and | | | | There is at least one security firm which has a |
| swindle. The latest figures available reveal that the | | | | most sophisticated 'wireless' guard system. This |
| security industry enjoys a turnover in excess of | | | | was seen in action at a trade exhibition recently. |
| [pounds sterling]3,500 million in Britain alone. The | | | | They 'visit' premises on a regular basis by long |
| numbers employed seem to be exceeded only by | | | | distance controlled television. They were paying |
| the leisure industries. | | | | one of these visits from their stand at the time |
| Look at the Yellow Pages. See how many firms | | | | they were seen. It was quite fortuitous that |
| there are in the different aspects of the business: | | | | during that demonstration, one actually saw |
| Burglar Alarms and Systems; Car Alarms; Closed | | | | 'action' at a depot 200 miles away. As the camera |
| Circuit Television; Identification Cards; | | | | panned the premises, two suspicious characters |
| Inter-Communication Systems; Locksmiths; Safe | | | | were seen prowling round. The police were |
| and Vault Equipment and Traffic Control. In the | | | | informed and, while the picture was still on the |
| Greater Manchester Directory alone, there are | | | | screen, they arrived and made an arrest in full |
| seventeen pages. The activities of these | | | | view of visitors to the exhibition stand. |
| companies are not to be confused with the work | | | | Arguments have been heard to the effect that |
| of Police Forces though there is close | | | | the owners of this building would have been at |
| understanding and co-operation between them. | | | | least as well served by the presence of security |
| Perhaps they replicate each other and work | | | | guards patrolling the grounds in person. What is |
| together on occasion, but their roles are different. | | | | known as 'man-guarding' is still the best known |
| It has been said the police are there to catch | | | | security service even if it has had a poor image in |
| culprits after crimes have been committed while | | | | the past. It has improved enormously, but there |
| private security operators make life more difficult | | | | are different opinions about the best way of |
| for the rogues and prevent the losses they can | | | | dealing with particular situations. In the case |
| cause. That is by no means an accurate | | | | described, the client had preferred the 'wireless' |
| statement, but it has a grain of truth. While the | | | | guard system. |