AustraliaS First National Forum On Cctv

The warning came as more than 100 security industry, business and government representatives gathered in Sydney for Australia’s first major forum on closed circuit television security systems hosted by Standards Australia. Dr George Arnold, Chairman of the Board of Directors American National Standards Institute, which is working with the US Department of Homeland Security to coordinate new security standards, said the private sector remains largely unprepared for a terrorist attack. “The 9/11 Commission Report highlighted the need for private sector emergency preparedness standards,” Dr Arnold said. “The September 11 attack, the London bombings and Hurricane Katrina have all highlighted the need for the private sector to have effective and practical emergency plans. “Tragically all of these events have too clearly demonstrated there is a lot of work to be done to protect the community against natural and terrorist threats,” he said. Mr John Tucker, CEO Standards Australia, said the forum was a major step forward in developing a consistent and comprehensive set of guidelines for the use and operation of CCTV security systems by the private sector. “While government is working on developing new CCTV systems for public infrastructure, soft targets such as restaurants and tourist attractions are often less protected,” Mr Tucker said. “Surprisingly there are currently no national or international standards that give the private sector clear advice on the management, installation and maintenance of CCTV systems. The Director General of the NSW Attoney General’s Department, Mr Laurie Glanfield AM, officially opened the forum. The forum brought together experts and potential users of surveillance systems to comment on the draft guidelines for CCTV that have been drawn up by Standards Australia.