Issue link: https://securitytechnologyexecutive.epubxp.com/i/107544
MARKET FOCUS Powered by A look at trends affecting the largest verticals that security serves Education: 6 Steps to Improve School Security Patrick V. Fiel Sr., an independent security consultant, offers the following six ways to improve school security in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy (for the full article, visit http://www.securityinfowatch.com/10856389): 1. Make security a top priority. All schools must have their current risk assessment plans reevaluated by an experienced, education security expert. Once plans are updated, school administrators must strictly enforce any new safety and security policies and procedures. 2. Look for ways to finance school security improvements. Both public and private grants may be available. The websites for federal and state departments of education are a good place to start. 3. Build strong relationships with local law enforcement. If your school does not have a regularly assigned officer for each campus, ask the police chief, sheriff or state police to make special assignments during school hours. 4. Encourage parents to get involved. Parents promote an environment in which children can comfortably talk about their fears and learn ways to resolve conflict without violence. They can also be a tremendous force in lobbying legislators for additional funding. 5. Teach students and teachers to be proactive regarding their own safety. More than anyone, students and teachers are aware of what happens on a campus; yet, they may be hesitant to report concerns. One option is to create an anonymous hotline and website to report suspicious activities. 6. Know who is on the campus at all times. All schools, especially elementary schools, must implement a closed campus policy. The main campus entrance should be controlled using electronic access through a video intercom system. All other doors should be locked throughout the day. Once a visitor is approved to enter, he or she must check in at the office, show government-issued identification to be screened before a temporary badge is printed for the person to wear at all times while on campus. 14 Stats: FBI Reports Violent Crime on the Rise The number of violent crimes reported by law enforcement for the first six months of 2012 increased 1.9 percent over figures from the same period in 2011, according to statistics from the FBI's Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June 2012. Property crimes also rose 1.5 percent overall. While murder and rape numbers actually decreased nationwide, the number of robberies increased 2.0 percent and aggravated assaults went up 2.3 percent. At a regional level, the West saw the largest overall jump in violent crime — up 3.1 percent — followed by a rise of 2.5 percent in the Midwest, and 1.1 percent each in the South and the Northeast. On the property crime front, all three offense categories showed overall increases — 1.9 percent for larceny-theft, 1.7 percent for motor vehicle theft, and 0.1 percent for burglary. The statistics for arson, collected separately from other property crimes because of varying degrees of reporting among law enforcement agencies, showed an overall jump of 3.2 percent during the first six months of 2012. Read the full story at www.securityinfowatch.com/10852858. Banking: Skimming Ranked Top Threat to ATMs Card skimming remains the biggest threat to ATM security around the world, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA). The survey also found that 54 percent of respondents had invested more in ATM security technology solutions since taking an initial survey during early 2012. Nearly 17 percent said they had increased their investment in security "significantly." Among other threats to ATMs were cash and card trapping — primarily a European problem — followed by gas and explosive attacks, burglaries and cyber-attacks. SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE • January/February 2013 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com