While the tragic incident still lies as a heavy burden on many patriotic American hearts, one inescapable irony is the fact that over 5,000 Americans die from food poisoning every year, and yet the deaths of these many lives are not given as much media attention. Lately though, the army has begun to pay close attention to how and where we supply our food from, as food has now become a priority in National Homeland Security. According to Assistant Chief of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, Colonel Gary Vroegindewey, the salmonella outbreak which infected 243,000 people in the Midwest is a tell-tale warning sign on how food can now be used as a concealed weapon of mass destruction as well as how devastating the effects can be on unaware civilians. Bob Harrington, Director of the Casper-Natrona County Health Department has further echoed Vroegindewey’s warnings by commenting that, “there are bad guys out there who want to poison our foods.” Sadly, we might not need any extra help in poisoning ourselves as research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1999 estimated that Americans suffer from 76 million illnesses due to food poisoning, out of which 5,000 will die from and 325,000 are hospitalized. While there are no updated figures currently available, the Associated Press estimates that the current numbers should be approaching 87 million cases of food poisoning in America every year with 5,700 deaths and 371,000 hospitalizations. According to the World Health Organization, food poisoning is expected to affect 25%, or 1 out of 4 Americans every year.

Safety versus Cost

The problem with food is that unless guarantees are set in place to ensure that all food processed is handled with great care, there will always be room for paranoia to seep in. For example, a single Washington state bovine which developed the Mad Cow Disease is estimated to cause a total of USD6 billion in economic losses across the country, including states in which the bovine were free of disease.

Our food also goes through plenty of processing stages, from harvesting to processing, packaging to delivering before it finally reaches mass consumers through markets and grocery marts. The key to controlling the safety of our food lies in not only securing the food chain, but in also constantly monitoring the process.

Since the September attacks, the U.S. government has been actively introducing food safety programs and yet have little results to show for the USD3.4 billion and eleven years spent on the campaign. To date, there is still no single agency in charge of coordinating the government’s pro-food safety efforts and no procedures have been set in place to swiftly monitor and prevent outbreaks. John Hoffman, a former Department of Homeland Security Senior Advisor best summed it all by saying, “At present, our primary detection capability is the emergency room.”

Paranoia vs Cost

While the U.S. government continues to combine forces with private food industries for better food handling surveillance, one thing we are all aware of is the fact that al-Qaida is now headed by a physician with special interests in biological attacks. Terrorists fear aside, poor food surveillance has always been a nightmare to all food manufacturers who fear not only the threat of third-world assassins, but also the sabotage from disgruntled employees or competitors.

In 1988, Camelford’s drinking water in the United Kingdom was polluted by 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate which was mistakenly added into the wrong treatment tank at Lowermoor treatment works. That single mistake affected the lives of 20,000 residents, one of which recently died with high levels of aluminium found in her brain. The point is that despite the best laid plans, human error must always be taken into account and surveillance must always be set in place to ensure that authorities can act swiftly whenever contamination is detected.

Hawkeye Security Surveillance

At Hawkeye, our philosophy to food surveillance is similar to how we would survey a site for theft or robbery. The great thing about installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is that it acts as a deterrent, thereby discouraging foolish individuals from sabotaging a working food process. CCTV cameras can also store recordings, which also makes it easier for the authorities to investigate past food recordings and quickly spot the culprit before he or she repeats the heinous crime again.

Hawkeye CCTV cameras also come in all types of designs, with some being built to weather harsh environments and other models built to record even in the dark. Besides helping you keep an eye out on food preparation 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, our surveillance system can also keep a watchful eye on your entire manufacturing plant by observing your staff and guests who come in contact with the food processing cycle.

After all, reputation once lost is nearly impossible to revive. We only have to look to China and marvel at how the lack of food security can cause sensational cases of contaminated yogurt, toxic baby formula, exploding watermelons and glowing pork meat, all of which have made dining in China a dangerous affair.

Food Safety Security Solutions">Source

CCTV is commonly installed in areas which require serious monitoring such as banks, airports, casinos, convenience stores, jewellery stores, Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) and airports. In the United Kingdom, public surveillance is conducted with the installation of over 2.5 million CCTV networks, effectively earning the country the reputation of owning more cameras per person than in any other country in the world as the average Londoner is caught on CCTV cameras at a rate of almost 300 times per day.

Incidentally, one of the biggest CCTV success stories also occurred in London and involved footage caught on CCTV identifying key suspects in the London bombing attack in July 2005. All suspects were eventually identified and convicted, thanks to the CCTV recording.

Success in Identifying Theft and Assault

Over at Tamworth, the Staffordshire Police have successfully managed to identify four men linked to robbery and assault at the Spar Stores in Ellerbeck, Stonydelph at around ten pm on December 10, 2011. The four youths, two of which were aged 19, were recorded stealing alcohol from the store. Shortly later, two of the four men were spotted on another CCTV at Carlcroft, Stonydelph with facial bruising and a broken cheekbone.

In a separate success story, two women who entered the Aurora Hotel and then proceeded to assault the hotel staff and damage equipment before stealing the alcohol were identified in due thanks to the hotel’s CCTV recording. The women, aged 24 and 26 will be charged with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of robbery, one count of stealing and three counts of criminal damage.

Success in Identifying Violent Criminals

Possibly one of the saddest CCTV footage to be revealed in 2012 was the clip of five-year old Thusha Kamaleswaran being shot in March 2011. The tragic incident which occurred in South London involved the five year old being present during a gang robbery at Stockwell Food and Wine. The shopkeeper, Roshan Selvakumar, also received a bullet and is said to suffer from bullet fragments lodged in his head.

Ironically enough, all three culprits of the shootout have pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to both Kamaleswaran and Selvakumar. The same three suspects are also accused of having attempted murder on Roshaun Bryan. While the court proceedings are still in process, the clear CCTV featuring the three suspects will make it difficult for them to deny that they were in possession of a firearm with intent, which carries a minimum jail term of ten years.

In a separate success story, CCTV cameras installed in the Goregaon railway station has literally saved the life of a woman who has been splashed with acid three times in three separate attacks. Thanks to the recorded footage, the Borivli railway police successfully identified and arrested the youth known as Pintoo Shaikh the following morning.

In the video, the 22 year old woman is seen talking on her mobile phone when Shaikh sneaks up on her and flings acid in her face.  Although the woman currently suffers from 10 to 15% burn on her face and upper body, her condition is said to be stable. Meanwhile, a case of attempted murder has been registered against Pintoo Shaikh who is pending trial.

Success in Identifying Kidnappers

Over at the Atlanta Walmart, a seven year-old girl named Brittney Baxter was nearly kidnapped by Thomas Woods, who was on parole for manslaughter. In the CCTV footage, Baxter is seen strolling along the toy aisle when she is suddenly approached from behind by a man who subsequently clamps his hand over her mouth and picks her up.

To her shining credit, Baxter bravely begins kicking and screaming while still being manhandled, which is when the man decides to let her go and hurries off. Although Thomas Woods has gone on the record of telling reporters: “I didn’t bother nobody, I was never there,” CCTV footage of the suspect’s car clearly indicates otherwise.

Success in Combating Social Crimes

In less than a month since its installation, the new CCTV system installed in Wanaka has allowed the Wanaka police investigate and make prompt arrests. In the span of three weeks, Wanaka police have already made arrests for theft of a sign, theft of a mountain bike, shoplifting and fighting, thanks to the footage recorded by the CCTV.

Over time, the police division intends to expand the CCTV network progressively, which includes making traffic management easier while also keeping an eye on the council’s infrastructure.

Success in Implementing Road Safety

Despite strict road safety regulations, a woman from Kilkelly was doomed to pay €500 when a mobile CCTV camera caught her failing to shut the gate on a level crossing. On the 11^th of March, 2011, the CCTV camera imprinted several shots of 37 year old Lorraine Mullaney passing the level crossing at Cloonboy, Claremorris.

Although Mullaney maintains that she simply forgot to shut the gate before driving off, the footage from the CCTV was sufficient to convince Judge Devins to order Mullaney to fork out €250 in costs to the Irish Rail and a further €250 as a fine.

Success in Crime Prevention

The interesting thing about the CCTV is that it doesn’t even have to record anything substantial to create a better, wholesome environment. At this point of writing, families living in Community Drive, Smallthorne are actively petitioning for CCTV cameras to be installed along their streets in light of the rising vandal attacks on their locally owned cars.

The attacks, which are believed to be perpetrated by drunk youths, include cars suffering from scratches, graffiti, break-ins and stoning. One of the latest reports also had one local complaining that his entire passenger side door was also forcefully kicked in. While local police have stepped up their patrol frequency, Sergeant John Hazeldine has also revealed that they are also currently considering installing mobile CCTV along the community to monitor and prevent further vandalism. The total amount of damage so far is reportedly totalling up to thousands of pounds.

CCTV Success Stories">Source

This is especially true for city dwellers as while the metropolis has a lot to offers in terms of food, lifestyle services, friendship and adventure, it is also a hotpot consisting of demented psychopaths and cruel criminals- none of which you would like to find lurking in your two-bedroom apartment at 2 in the morning.

The thing though is that while most buildings in the city already have cameras installed, these hardware are oftentimes obsolete, vandalised or are simply there for show. When it comes to safety, it is always best to be safe than sorry, which is why we recommend that you install only the best security system at work and at home.

What’s the Best Security System for Me?

The ideal security system varies from one individual’s needs to the other, which is why you should seek consultation from security experts such as Hawkeye Security Depot who understands that customers are entitled to customizing their security system according to their lifestyle and business operation flow.

The folks at Hawkeye Security Depot are also famous for their wide range of electronic surveillance hardware, ranging from intelligent CCTV units to high megapixel cameras and state-of-the-art security systems.

When to Install Vandal-Proof Surveillance Cameras

Have you ever noticed surveillance cameras which have been mutilated by spray paint and brute force? While stopping vandalism is out of our jurisdiction (for now), what we can offer our customers though is the option of getting your money’s worth out of your surveillance camera. After all, why invest in a surveillance camera if it’s going to end up destroyed by punks who couldn’t care less about public safety?

At Hawkeye Security Depot, we only stock surveillance cameras which are robust enough to withstand plenty of abuse. The secret to the toughness of our cameras lies in the durable housing used to encase each camera which does not affect the quality of the recording, regardless of lighting conditions or weather changes. We recommend installing vandal-proof surveillance cameras at schools, learning institutions and shopping areas which are prone to large volumes of traffic and sabotage.

When to Install the Intelligent CCTV

Statistically, most robberies at business joints occur due to corrupt staff or employees, which is why security systems should also be implemented indoors in order to keep tabs on your employee activities. Even if you do trust your team members, it is just as advisable to protect their safety with indoor surveillance as well.

While most closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are only capable of recording events, Hawkeye Security Depot offers intelligent CCTV units which can detect and report the crime to the police automatically! The secret to this feature is the software installed in the camera which can detect clues of a crime being committed, such as screams, breaking glass, foul language and car alarms going off. Once a suspicious sound is registered, the CCTV camera will then swivel in the direction of the source of the sound and will then alert the staff at hand. The intelligent CCTV performs best when it is installed in quiet areas such as libraries, offices, banks and lobby areas.

Megapixel Cameras Explained

The megapixel camera refers to the resolution of your camera. For example, a 3 x 5 inch photograph would only require 0.5 megapixels to print a clear image. At Hawkeye Security Depot, we understand that it is of the upmost importance that your surveillance camera comes with a high megapixel count in order to clearly record events. After all, the last thing you want is to capture a blurry face of a perpetrator trespassing on your property.

Our cameras also happen to come in two types of format to make recording a lot more convenient, too.

Wireless IP Cameras

The biggest problem with old school CCTV cameras is that it can be easily switched off simply by cutting the feed from the camera to the observation office. To do this, all one really has to do is to snip off the connecting wire, much like how one can snip off the telephone line to cut off all communications.

To bypass this problem, we offer camera units without wires. These wireless devices then transmit images or videos of their recording to the mainframe via airwaves, signals and lasers.

VPN Cameras

The problem with the wireless camera is that experienced computer programmers or a power outage event may be sufficient enough to wipe out all the data being recorded by your surveillance system. To counter this problem, we also stock higher-end VPN cameras.

VPN is the abbreviation for Virtual Private Network Cameras, which refers to the transference of all CCTV recordings into a private network than can only be viewed by the owner of the surveillance system. This makes it harder for computer hackers to access your mainframe system and trick your security into thinking that no crime is occurring at that very moment. The VPN Camera should be installed in the critical areas, such as safes and deposit areas to ensure that your valuables are always monitored 24-hours a day, every day.

Regardless of whichever type of camera you choose, our skilled technicians at Hawkeye Security Depot are trained to configure and install remote viewing into your security system, making it possible for you to observe your property regardless of your location, via the Internet.

Have Your Security System Installed Today!

Did you know that Hawkeye Security Depot is the largest provider of CCTV Security Systems in the country? Our list of clients includes the government, military, correction facilities, schools, retail outlets and airports. We also serve overseas clients in Japan, Germany, Korea, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Greenland and Turkey so feel free to contact us today for a consultation session today.

Top Four Security Systems Revealed">Source

Security System Options">Source

First of all, the best thing about these cameras is that they provide exponentially better quality than their older counterparts. Whereas analog cameras relied on the quality of the lens and the film to get a better picture, megapixel security cameras get their quality from the number of megapixels that the lens has, in much the same way as consumer digital cameras do. (Put simply, they are digital cameras mounted on a wall.) The advantage of this technology is that the owner is able to get a much clearer picture if he or she ever needed to play back the footage. In a situation like a burglary or other breach of security, a home or business owner doesn’t want to provide fuzzy, unclear footage to the authorities, since there’s almost no chance of the criminal getting caught that way. Megapixel security cameras provide much more detail than the older types of cameras. If you live in the Atlanta area, you should consider contacting an Atlanta Megapixel Camera Installation company to have this type of security installed for you.

Not only do these cameras provide better quality, but they are also easier to install and maintain, thanks to less cables being involved. With older security cameras, there were two cables necessary to run them: One cable to send the video footage, and the other for power. These cables were often bulky and awkward to install and hide out of sight. Thanks to better technology, megapixel security cameras only need one cable: an ethernet cable attached to a network device that provides Power Over Ethernet (POE). With this setup, you only need to run one small cable from the camera to your network storage device.

In addition to giving better quality with less cables, megapixel security cameras are also more efficient than their older cousins, being that they are digital instead of analog. With older cameras, a home or business owner had to constantly be putting in new tapes, or recording over old tapes, and if a person wanted to keep all their footage, those tapes would take up a lot of room. Megapixel security cameras record their footage in a digital format, meaning that all of the video it takes will be stored neatly on your computer, and there is no need for external media like tapes or CDs. You can purchase an external hard drive which measures not even 12″ x 12″ and store years’ worth of video on it. That’s certainly a lot better than a room full of old dusty tapes!

Megapixel Security Cameras">Source

Arial Shots Of the Plant:

The Hawkeye Solution:

• Fiber network infrastructure
  With thousands of times the bandwidth of copper wire, fiber can carry signals hundreds of times further before needing a repeater, making fiber networking the best way get speed-intensive performance for this network. Plus, fiber cables are immune to electromagnetic interference, which is commonplace in industrial settings like this.
• Media converters
  Media converters were vital for making it possible to connect different types of media in this surveillance system, for instance, a twisted pair with fiber optic cabling.
• Gigabit POE Switches
  Or, “power over Ethernet,” these Cisco POE gigabit switches allow video signals to safely and conveniently pass through Ethernet cables at 1,000 megabits per second.
• IDF 9U Installations
  A convenient and innovative rack system, this Exacq NVR server allows for power and control of the surveillance network to be centralized.
• 1080p to 8 Mega pixel panoramic video cameras
  State-of-the-art Arecont 180 panoramic 8MP video cameras that allow for 360 degrees of viewing, and with Vivotek 1080P VGA over IP PTZ, they receive “full HD” resolution quality.
• Remote access via IPod and smart phone
  This innovative technology offers Yorozu the opportunity to check in on virtually every square inch of their plant, no matter what time it is, and where ever they are.
• 12 terabyte storage expandable to 32 TB storage array  on a network video recorder
  Massive storage space, for this type of use. Just to put things into perspective, the Library of Congress to date has collected 235 terabytes of data, tacking on 5 TB per month.
• Integrated with acesss control system
  All of the features of this high quality Hawkeye surveillance system have been integrated together with gate control and 24 hour guard access, for a comprehensive security that is sure to prevent break-in and theft.

As you can see, Hawkeye has the knowledge and experience to build surveillance systems that are specifically curtailed around the needs of your business, public institution, or any place else that security will is an issue.  No matter what safety and security challenges you present, Hawkeye will provide innovative and effective answers. Contact us today for an appointment to discuss your needs.

Yorozu Automotive Plant: Security Solution Example">Source

“Atlanta OKs surveillance center; cameras to watch city

Big Brother is coming to Atlanta. Or is it a watchful eye that will make walking city streets safer?

On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a measure to network and monitor thousands of public and privately owned security cameras throughout Atlanta. The cameras and images will be part of a new multi-million dollar video integration center, designed to compile and analyze footage from the network..

To start, images from as many as 500 cameras — some city-owned and some private —  are expected to flow into the center, providing images from Piedmont Park to Underground Atlanta. The center will use software that can identify “suspicious” behavior and allow monitors to quickly deploy public safety personnel. The software is also capable of pinpointing where gunshots originate from.

The center is being built by a $2.6 million federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department. The Atlanta Police Foundation – which funds the camera network operated by the Midtown Blue, a private security agency — is also raising money to operate the center. The city has not determined yet how much it will cost to operate the center annually, but the Council is committed to establishing virtually blanket video monitoring of the city.

“I am in full support of increased eyes on the streets,” said Ivory Lee Young, chairman of the council’s public safety committee. “[Atlanta Police] Chief Turner expressed early on that this was a way to supplement enforcement with technology. This is a way to operate smarter.”

Others are conflicted, worried about the camera network’s impact on privacy.

“I have very mixed feelings about it,” said Marsha Guobadia, a Sandy Springs resident. ” …I want my family to feel safe and protected. The question is how far is too far in protecting citizens, but possibly infringing on those citizens’ privacy?”

The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the cameras.

“When you start centralizing video footage from one place, run by the government, you are opening up the possibility that everybody will be tracked and monitored, which is inconsistent with our oldest traditions of privacy,” asked Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst for the national ACLU.

City COO Peter Aman said the city is aware of privacy concerns and will remain sensitive to them.

“But we do believe that appropriate video monitoring of public spaces can reduce crime and avoid privacy issues,” Aman said.

In cities where cameras have been employed to help fight crime, there have been measures of success. San Francisco installed cameras in 2005 and last week the city’s police chief asked for more, after an art thief was arrested after being captured on video. .
But Stanley argues that there is no data that conclusively proves that cameras reduce crime in a city.

“It may move crime somewhere else,” Stanley said. “These centers are expensive and people would be better off having police officers on the streets, instead of these high-tech gizmos, which people assume is a silver bullet. ”

Aman said video deters crime and helps with investigations..

“If you go to COBRA, you will hear ‘video’ in every case,” said Aman, about the APD’s weekly crime analysis meeting. “Whether low or highprofile, video evidence is critical part in putting people in jail. And putting people in jail reduces the crime rate.”"

If you’re interested in having surveillance cameras installed, don’t hesitate to contact Hawkeye Security, your premier Georgia security system company!