The season of good will?

December 2006

ID Technology Group helping retailers combat In-store violence with security that can see, speak and hear

Packed shops, overflowing car parks and long queues at the tills are what most of us associate with Christmas shopping. But from the retailers’ point of view – in-store crime and violence is a growing problem - and signifies the start to the so called season of good will.

In the face of growing violence towards shop staff, 63% of which is verbal, 21% threats and 16% physical*, there is an increase in demand for technology that can not only monitor the store environment and provide visual information, but can hear what is being said and give a Central Monitoring operator the power to talk to the offender.

ID Technology Group’s ID Guardian solution allows staff, at the touch of a button, to activate two-way audio transmission through the CCTV system. This triggers a ‘listening’ device within the store to enable a Central Monitoring Station to hear every word being spoken, and permits intervention through talking to the offender via the store’s PA system.

Shop staff feel protected and other customers within the store are also safer as a result of a system which is becoming increasingly vital in a sector where violent and abusive behaviour towards staff is a constant threat.

“Violence and anti-social behaviour are growing problems within the retail industry. Just using CCTV cameras to capture footage of the action is only part of the solution to provide sufficient remote intelligence and protection for retailers, said Andrew Gillies, Managing Director at ID Technology Group.

“We are working with several high street retailers to implement systems which not only monitor people’s actions, but can record sound too – a person’s body language may be calm, but what they are saying to retail staff may be abusive, threatening and offensive – our system can capture the entire incident, relaying vital information.

“Add the stresses of peak shopping periods like Christmas and the January sales to the equation and retailers can see the added value of implementing a system that can see, hear and if needs be, interact.”

The ID Guardian system is one of a number of ways ID is helping retailers combat retail violence and crime through their IDEAS (Integrated Digital Electronic Automated System) suite of solutions.

About ID Technology Group

ID Technology Group Ltd is a wholly owned company of ID Support Services Ltd. As one of the UK’s largest independent providers of integrated electronic security solutions, ID offers a consultative approach to organisations aiming to maximise their commercial security, whilst benefiting from cost efficiencies. Clients benefit from a range of sophisticated security solutions including CCTV, Access Control and Electronic Article Surveillance, otherwise know as electronic tagging.

With over twenty years of experience, ID addresses the security needs of some of the UK’s leading organisations in the retail, leisure, entertainment, commercial and industrial sectors.

Contact enquiries@id-group.co.uk

Stanley Casinos ups the stakes to Digital. Casino group upgrades security across its network

October 2006

Stanley Casinos, the largest casino group in the UK, is continuing the upgrade of its CCTV systems across its provincial estate of casinos. Stanley Casinos has chosen to partner with the ID Technology Group, engaging in a contract that will result in Stanley Casinos utilising the latest digital architecture to provide protection and security for both its customers and its staff.

The first stage of the upgrade process across the estate began in July and is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

ID Technology has worked with Stanley Casinos for over four years, providing full support services in terms of installation of enterprise level electronic security solutions and ongoing service and maintenance support through its team of dedicated “Casino Engineers”. This latest project illustrates the company's commitment to digital technology moving forward and the excellent working relationship between the two companies.

The advent of digital technology within the gaming industry further illustrates the downturn for analogue systems. With most major manufacturers of VCR technology ceasing production and moving to digital systems (DVD recorders etc), analogue systems really are now at the end of their days.

Dave Mills, Head of Security, Stanley Casinos said: “Digital technology is a lot more efficient for information retrieval, takes up less physical space, and is much more reliable when it comes to the image quality. Managers across our casinos are much happier using digital systems, they are more operator friendly and takes away the laborious task of changing tapes with the older analogue systems.

From a security point of view, the images provide a much better quality image, meaning we are more likely to be able to pursue any investigations successfully.”

ID Technology is installing the Visimetrics Digital Video Recording system. The system will record in real-time (25ips) with full lip-synched audio.

Analogue systems have often been criticised for giving the impression that they have been working effectively until you come to look at the tapes following an event. With digital technology, if all is not well the user will know straight away. In addition analogue tapes deteriorate in quality over time.

The latest Stanley Casino to showcase the new digital technology is a new flagship casino for the group based in Hanley near Stoke on Trent. The 25,000 sq ft casino has 64 fully functional and fixed colour high resolution cameras.

Matthew Allen, High Security Director, ID Technology Group comments: "ID Technology is working closely with Stanley Casinos to ensure its estate is equipped with future proof surveillance and monitoring systems. As the focus on security issues increases, the gaming industry must embrace new technologies that will provide them with greater protection and more information. ID Technology offers its clients installation, service and ongoing management of the latest electronic security solutions. We ensure they get the most suitable and efficient security solutions to meet their needs.

In the case at Stanley Casinos, the continuing move to digital was an inevitable decision, it requires expertise in installation and ongoing management to ensure the system is used to its full capability, ID Technology is well placed in this marketplace, as a company we have been installing video over IP solutions for over 4 years, and employ specialist IT engineers to support these systems”.

Dave Mills concludes: " We are working with ID Technology to move towards the whole of our estate being covered by digital technology. They are a trusted partner and understand our needs and that of our marketplace. We are confident our new system will benefit us enormously with increased quality and efficiency along with the capability to store significantly more footage.”

About ID Technology Group

ID Technology Group Ltd is a wholly owned company of ID Support Services Ltd. As one of the UK’s largest independent providers of integrated electronic security solutions, ID offers a consultative approach to organisations aiming to maximise their commercial security, whilst benefiting from cost efficiencies. Clients benefit from a range of sophisticated security solutions including CCTV, Access Control and Electronic Article Surveillance, otherwise know as electronic tagging.

With over twenty years of experience, ID addresses the security needs of some of the UK’s leading organisations in the retail, leisure, entertainment, commercial and industrial sectors.

Contact enquiries@id-group.co.uk

ID launches new interactive web site

October 2006

ID has launched its new interactive website, giving existing and potential customers a new dimension and greater information to its activities.

Using Blend Creative Consultancy to build the site, it offers fully comprehensive news pages and press releases, informing customers of breaking and exciting prospects and stories that are currently being involved within ID, along with up to the minute case studies of ID’s work and client testimonials.

The site signals exciting times for ID, who have recently relaunched their logo and identity to tie in with the new ID group structure, with a new brochure and company branding activities raising ID's profile as a leading elecronic security solutions provider.

Contact enquiries@id-group.co.uk

Rank Group Gaming Division backs ID Technology group for new ‘flagship’ G Casino

July 2006

Rank Group Gaming Division's first G Casino based in Manchester’s Bury New Road showcases the latest in leading edge technology and electronic security solutions. Its security now rivals, if not surpasses that of the big casinos in Las Vegas.

Working with ID Technology Group, Rank Group Gaming Division has invested a substantial sum to ensure the new £4.2 million gaming environment houses an array of sophisticated security applications to help protect its staff, customers, assets and property now and into the future.

G Casino offers a 100 seater poker room, 15 gaming tables with Smart chip technlogy as well as 62 electronic gaming stations offering the latest in TiTo ticketing facilities and a party zone for gaming beginners.

The new ‘flagship’ casino, which opened at the end of June employing over 100 staff, currently has 72 cameras installed on its system. ID Technology installed a NVT (Network Video Transmission) system at the casino that provides the scope for straightforward expansion should more cameras be needed on the network as the casino grows. Aesthetically, the NVT network means the cabling is already in place, so no more would need to be installed causing changes to the design.

PTZ dome cameras are linked to numerous door contacts throughout the casino, ensuring they can swing into position and capture all those entering and leaving through any door within the casino.

John Butler, Director of Security at Rank Group Gaming Division said: “We have been working with ID Technology for around six years across the group and we were confident they could provide us with a leading edge security solution for our new casino in Manchester.”

About ID Technology Group

ID Technology Group Ltd is a wholly owned company of ID Support Services Ltd. As one of the UK’s largest independent providers of integrated electronic security solutions, ID offers a consultative approach to organisations aiming to maximise their commercial security, whilst benefiting from cost efficiencies. Clients benefit from a range of sophisticated security solutions including CCTV, Access Control and Electronic Article Surveillance, otherwise know as electronic tagging.

With over twenty years of experience, ID addresses the security needs of some of the UK’s leading organisations in the retail, leisure, entertainment, commercial and industrial sectors.

Contact enquiries@id-group.co.uk