CASS is intended to advance current methods for screening and sorting hazardous chemicals to support site security guidelines. CASS uses a series of ultrasonic pulses to measure the acoustic signature of a liquid. The technology was developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle Memorial Institute on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. More than 100 units have been sold to agencies such as the United Nations, the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Customs. As outlined by the American Chemistry Council, under the Responsible Care Security Code, chemical companies are required to conduct comprehensive security vulnerability assessments of their facilities, implement security enhancements, and obtain independent verification that those enhancements have been made. Implementing the Security Code under a strict timeline is mandatory for members of the American Chemistry Council and Responsible Care Partner companies. “Congress may pass legislation that will require all chemical plants to pass security inspections similar to those mandated by the American Chemical Council,” said Robert Tillson, CEO of HMSI. “If and when that happens, chemical companies will need an efficient way to address product contamination and tampering threats, as outlined in the site security guidelines. CASS directly addresses these issues. It can reduce the costs, risk, time, and injuries associated with these inspections, while at the same time increasing security.” Benefits of CASS include: quick examination of typical chemical containers (drums, barrels, pipelines and tanker trucks); the ability to determine content without opening containers; ability to distinguish similar from dissimilar container contents; and the detection of hidden compartments and submerged contraband. Powered by rechargeable batteries, CASS is the size of a hair dryer and is attached to a Pocket PC handheld computer that contains a database of chemicals. CASS can identify contents in containers ranging in size from eight to 96 inches in diameter and has been known to detect the difference between Coke and Pepsi.

ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions unites the ESSEX sales force with YSG’s independent sales agencies, as well as other aspects of the once separate entities. “This removes internal boundaries and enables us to offer the market a wider variety of life-safety and security packages and solutions,” says Tom Kaika, vice president of sales, in a statement. Door Security Solutions will provide sales and marketing support for the following brands: Ceco Door, Corbin Russwin, Curries, Folger Adam, Graham, HES, McKinney, Norton, Rixson, Sargent, Securitron and Yale.

Facts and Figures provides trend and recent data on different types of recorded crime; crime victimisation; alleged offenders; and on criminal courts, corrections and criminal justice resources. Dr Makkai said ‘the report provides a national picture of crime and justice throughout Australia for the period 1996 to 2003’. “Overall the figures show that there have been declines across almost all of the major crimes in Australia, particularly for property offences which accounted for 85% of all major crimes in 2003”, Dr Makkai reported. The homicide rate was at its highest in 1999 with a rate of 2.04 per 100,000 of the population. This dropped to 1.7 per 100,000 of the population in 2003. The rate for robbery peaked at 137 per 100,000 of the population in 2001, the highest recorded since 1996. Since 2001 rates have declined by 28% to 99 per 100,000 of the population. The rate of assault increased steadily from 623 victims per 100,000 people in 1996 to 815 per 100,000 people in 2002, before declining by 2% to 798 per 100,000 in 2003. The number of sexual assaults increased between 2002 and 2003 by approximately 1%. This was the only offence to record an increase during this period. This is the seventh publication in the series which is published annually by the AIC. While the AIC has been collecting and analysing data for the past 30 years, the availability of national statistics on major crimes is a relatively recent phenomenon. This publication makes use of those national statistics as well as a variety of other sources. The full report can be found at: https://www.aic.

Users can connect SymVeo(tm) IP platform cameras, SymDec(tm) digital video recorders, PCs and servers directly to the network. SymNet(tm) encoders/decoders provide network access for currently used analog cameras and monitors. The platform can be used anywhere an organization needs to capture surveillance video and is especially beneficial in applications with multiple facilities such as banks and ATM kiosks, school campuses, office and industrial parks and retail chains. “Because security applications are varied and broad, the market demands solutions that will bridge gaps between analog and digital products, provide high scalability and solve security issues in small commercial to large enterprise business environments,” said Robert Siegel, Security’s marketing manager for video solutions. “These new GE SymSuite products are just the beginnings of a complete digital security system, which will work together just like instruments in a symphony. Using these products as building blocks, we are providing a fully-featured solution designed for use in an IP environment.” The SymVeo camera lets customers use an existing Ethernet network to send video signals. Anywhere users can access an IP network, they can access cameras and digital recorders to view high-quality digital images up to D1 resolution. They can gracefully move to an integrated, or hybrid, IP platform for all of their security applications. Besides Ethernet outputs, the new camera also features a BNC output, providing a direct network connection while supporting existing analog equipment. The camera also capitalizes on GE’s successful, advanced Xposure(tm) technology, which exposes each pixel individually to produce clear, detailed images in the most challenging lighting conditions. A built-in MPEG-4 encoder compresses video output to preserve network performance without compromising image quality. Users can add either live or recorded audio. The SymDec introduces hybrid recording that works with both conventional analog cameras and the new family of GE digital cameras. It allows users to record full-sized images at full speed on every channel. Using MPEG-4 compression, the VSR records at 60, 30, 20, 10 and 5 fields per second and has full Triplex functionality for simultaneous viewing, playback and recording of video. Its streaming video capabilities offer up to four single channels of recording at D1 quality or four channels of CIF quality. The SymDec fits into a standard 19-inch rack. A removable hard drive caddy provides portable storage or evidence transfer. It can be easily networked and viewed remotely via Ethernet. The SymNet encoders/decoders allow connections of any existing analog cameras, domes, keyboards and monitors to an IP network. The encoder converts video from analog cameras into a MPEG-4 data stream of 2Mb/s. Decoders convert the MPEG-4 data stream back to composite NTSC output for viewing on traditional analog monitors. Two built-in serial ports on each unit let users communicate with PTZ cameras on the network using RS-232 or RS-485 protocol from a PC or keypad connected to an encoder. GE’s SymNav software lets users view their entire network through their PCs. Since the network’s inputs are not multiplexed, they can see real-time, full-motion video of broadcast quality images at 30 fps for each channel. They can call up four cameras at one time or view video in a single window. They can also find video storage quickly by searching for time/date, camera, alarm, event, or transaction text. The software also lets users control PTZ cameras.

Pilots who monitor the program estimate that between 4,000 and 4,500 have been trained and deputized to carry guns since the Federal Flight Deck Officer program began in April 2003. That total is about three times as many as a year ago, yet a fraction of the 95,000 pilots who fly for U.S. airlines. David Mackett, president of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance, a group formed to lobby for guns in the cockpit, said tens of thousands of his colleagues are interested in the program. “We have an armed pilots program that’s arming very few pilots,” said Mackett, who hasn’t signed up because of the way the program is run. He said many others won’t join for the same reason. Mackett contends the Transportation Security Administration isn’t moving to get substantially more pilots trained to carry guns because it has never really wanted the program. TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield disputed that, saying agency chief David Stone fully backs the effort and that procedures have been changed to more quickly get pilots into the program. “I’ve got a pipeline with a couple of thousand applicants and we’re running two full classes a week,” Hatfield said. The TSA can train about 50 pilots per class. Hatfield said he couldn’t disclose which procedures had been adjusted because of the program’s sensitive security nature. The exact number of armed pilots is classified. No pilot has fired a weapon, either intentionally or accidentally, while on duty, according to TSA spokeswoman Andrea McCauley. The TSA initially opposed the program, worrying that introducing a weapon to a commercial flight was dangerous and that other security enhancements since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks made it unnecessary. The agency reluctantly endorsed the idea when it was clear Congress was behind it. The Bush administration now wants to spend $7 million more on arming pilots in 2006 than the $25.3 million this year. The increase will mostly go toward retraining pilots who already carry firearms, according to a TSA spokeswoman, Amy von Walter. Pilots must volunteer, take a psychological test and complete a weeklong firearms training program run by the government to keep a gun in the cockpit. Mackett said it can take from two months to a year to get a gun from the time an online application is submitted. Some pilots never even hear back from the TSA, he said. Mackett said the psychological testing and background checks are unnecessary because pilots already have been carefully vetted by their airlines to be able to fly commercial jets. Hatfield countered that the requirements are needed because of the unique stresses of defending a plane from terrorists while trying to fly it. “All of the testing, including the psych portion, is designed to ensure we have the most capable candidates for this extremely demanding job,” he said. “Unlike other law enforcement jobs, it’s not just about making a life-or-death decision and waiting for backup. It’s about making that decision and then turning around and flying the plane again.” Another pilots’ group, the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, gave the TSA a “D” for the guns-in-the-cockpit program as part of its annual “Aviation Security Report Card.” Both pilot groups object to the requirement that pilots carry their government-issue semiautomatic guns in a lockbox when they’re not in the cockpit and to store it in the cargo hold when they’re traveling but not flying a plane. Coalition president Jon Safle said that forcing pilots to give up their guns is “just not a smart thing to do” and that it exposes the weapons to loss or theft. Last year, Congress failed to pass a bill that would speed the application and training process, allow pilots to carry guns in holsters and let those among them with military or law enforcement backgrounds carry guns immediately. Mackett said the pilots will try again this year.

The awards consist of 160,000 restricted shares, which vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 600,000 premium priced stock options with strike prices ranging from $37 to $45, which vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The Board of Directors feels that premium priced stock options provide an effective vehicle to align Mr. Breen’s incentives with shareholder interests. The Compensation Committee of the Board also approved stock option grants for Tyco’s senior executives and other key employees. These shares represent approximately 1 per cent of the company’s total shares outstanding. A successful turnaround in the wake of the Kozlowski affair and a return to profitability by the world’s largest security company has led to the stock rewards.

Joining Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, Ness says its newest branch offers Adelaide trade customers the range of quality Ness manufactured security products with which they are familiar together with Ness’ “must see” range of access control and cctv products that have made a significant impression with professional dealers Australia-wide. Branch manager Neil Morgan, imported from the Ness Brisbane office, has landed on his feet and is ready to show the local market why he believes Ness products offer the best value for money security in Australia together with the best Customer Service. Meanwhile Ness has thanked their long time distributor Derek Steele and his staff of Aquavia Controls for their loyalty and friendship over many years of hard work in bringing Ness products to the Adelaide market. Pat Steele will be joining the company to continue providing the excellent customer service for which she is well known, Ness reports.

Kevin was formerly with Vision Systems (and IEI) where he spent 29 years selling and supporting the Adpro range. Rexel, as Adpro distributors, now have the ability to offer exceptional support to our customers who are using Adpro, in conjunction with Rexel’s established range of CCTV products.