19 minute read
Security
Could some surveillance help crime deterrence?
Is a total moratorium on CCTV facial recognition a necessary measure? When used responsibly and properly, perhaps not says the BSIA
Crime deterrence is not an exact science, nor is using one security method over another. In general, the public and businesses need to be equipped to evaluate their own personal circumstances, especially with CCTV as a heightened news topic. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), as the voice of the professional security industry, offers its members the opportunity to come together collectively to improve the industry.
BSIA has been at the forefront of creating standards and codes of practice since the advent of video surveillance technology. Some examples include: privacy masking guide, chip and PIN guide, BS 8418, IEC 62676, Cyber Secure It, Cyber Security Guide, as stakeholder in the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Buyers Toolkit (privacy impact assessment), and submission of evidence to the select committee examining the relationship between the citizen and operated by private enterprises and b) the state during the readings of the when used to prevent or solve Protection of Freedom’s Act. crimes this was being done for
In previous BSIA research the greater good of society. it was determined that only one in 70 cameras in the UK are owned by the government for the purpose of public safety, the remainder are privately owned and operated under the scope of the operational requirements of the owners. When the report was published it allayed There is a large public focus on privacy, data and its use across all platforms and publicly accessible places in the UK A number of highprofile cases have been solved or helped through the use of evidence extracted from video surveillance systems. This evidence was extracted by the police using standard methods developed previous fears that UK was by the BSIA and Home ‘sleepwalking into a surveillance Office to ensure consistency state’ - comments made by the and acceptance into the criminal Information Commissioner. The public justice process. In the UK these cases have sentiment towards video surveillance is included preventing mainland IRA activity, now that a) it is generally owned and finding missing persons, and according E
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to leading police authorities after the 7/7 bombing, the second attack was prevented with substantial help from the video surveillance footage. That footage had to be manually retrieved from 1,000s of discrete video surveillance recording systems, and then multiple formats reviewed by police officers and forensic experts in order to create a sequence of events, and to trace the movements of the terror suspects.
In the UK corporate entities have to operate within the legal framework laid out in company law which requires a consideration towards corporate and social responsibility, they also have to comply with UK Employment Law, GDPR, Protection of Freedoms Act and Equality Act to protect people from exploitation. Many corporates are now taking an approach to employee well-being; Generally video surveillance in the workplace is used for process management, safety and security of employees and not to watch employees.
What about the use of AI technologies?
There is a large public focus on privacy, data and its use across all platforms and publicly accessible places in the UK.
There may be some misunderstanding around this subject and it also may not be clearly communicated as to what AI technology is and how it is being used. It is therefore the industry’s responsibility to explain its capabilities and provide recommendations as to how it may be best used. The actual use should be governed by ethical, legal and standardised frameworks and if such frameworks are yet to be developed, there has to be a wider consultation which involves engagement with stakeholders and government. At this stage, the use of facial recognition in South Wales was ruled by a judge to be legal under GDPR. Generally, if the public are supportive as was the case with general video surveillance, due to the industry explaining how it can be implemented and the police putting it to good use, it is more likely that the technology will be accepted as a benefit to society.
In the UK, in the event of an incident or criminal investigation, the police have a legislative framework already available to them which can enable access to the video surveillance recordings from any video system in the UK whether publicly or privately owned with a clearly defined legal justification.
The advent of facial recognition may have challenged the existing legal framework, because the technology makes it easier and faster to automatically find specific individuals in live or recorded images saving police time, enabling a faster response and solving crime more quickly and effectively at a lower public cost.
The private electronic security industry largely self-regulates through standards and codes of practice developed by the BSIA as a trade body, standards bodies and other interested parties. These standards are to ensure the effective and ethical use of video surveillance for the operator’s purpose.
Automated Facial Recognition
Similar to other security measures or digital tools, Automated Facial Recognition (AFR) can have both positive and negative uses. The BSIA supports this technology when it is used correctly guided by an ethical and unbiased judgement. With that said we believe a standard is necessary to provide guidance on its usage and ensure discriminatory practices are eradicated as we cannot and will not support technology used for these purposes.
Private operators who form the majority of owners of the video estate have been using facial recognition when combined with access control to improve the security of educational facilities for many years. Public acceptance of the use of the face as a method of authentication for the payments system is already here.
Any technology can be used in a way which may become detrimental to the individual, for example, a mobile phone may be used to view/monitor a person without their consent. However, there are laws which protect the public and admonish those who abuse communications technologies. Videos posted on YouTube can be easily downloaded - altered - and re-uploaded to contain deep fake technology. Soon the public may not be able to determine the truth at all when using digital technology.
In the professional video surveillance domain, the potential for the abuse of the technology may exist, however current standards and legislation do prevent such abuse. As progress is made towards the effective harnessing of video surveillance for the greater good of society, influencing standards and challenging the current ethical and legal frameworks is necessary to test their suitability. The industry is supportive of the challenge and is lobbying the relevant authorities to improve existing or create new frameworks for the safe use of AI with video surveillance data.
Is a total moratorium on CCTV facial recognition a necessary measure?
The BSIA is aware of the Private Members Bill which started in the House of Lords prior to the UK elections. This calls for a moratorium on the use of all facial recognition technology in public places until the ethical and legal frameworks have been examined. It is unknown whether this bill will continue.
BSIA is against the misuse of any technology and where it has a negative impact on the individual and are calling for the creation of relevant ethical and legal frameworks for the safe use of facial recognition in public places. This should also be underpinned by a standard which may define the scope of use, the legal framework under which it has to be operated, privacy impact and ethical considerations. In the meantime, BSIA supports the best use of technology within current frameworks that improve the security and safety of the world we live in with greater explanation and transparency.
In conclusion, it is easily seen how much this technology can benefit when used responsibly and properly. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.bsia.co.uk
Leveling up pothole repair
The Road Surface Treatment Association’s ‘Vital statistics 3rd edition 2019’ shows that Britain is currently facing a backlog of £9.79 billion and total depth of 28km of potholes on one of the country’s most valuable infrastructure assets: the local road network - valued at some £400 billion
As part of the RSTA, Schäfer-Technic is providing one of the solutions to the problem that plagues motorists and cyclists alike: Blow-Patching.
Blow-Patching has been a reliable and affordable way to maintain roads since its introduction in Germany in 1996.
It is one of the easiest and fastest ways for councils and road authorities to extend the life of their road network via spot repair. Blow-Patching is the next step up from spraying and gritting and has a wide range of applications. Because of different requirements and conditions Schäfer-Technic has developed several versions of Blow-Patchers to enable operators and councils to carry out the necessary work in all possible conditions. Because of the unique production process, every single unit is individually customized to the user’s requirements in size, capacity, weight, driver’s license limitations and material usage.
Schäfer-technic GmbH has been on the forefront of manufacturing, developing and defining what Patching has to look like to keep up with the ever increasing strain on public road networks, be it by the increase of weight per axle or a general increase in traffic on ageing roads since the very first model was built at our plant in Fellbach.
Since then we have been pioneering in all major technical developments, be it from reducing noise and emissions, worker safety,
Before special applications, different available vehicle platforms and modified emulsions.
An ideal method
It is the ideal method for safe, cost-efficient and permanent repair of cracking, pot holes and damages caused by freezing water ingress into the surface. Patching not only repairs the surface and minimizes damage claims of road users but also protects the road against future damages.
The Blow-Patcher uses four components to clean, coat, fill and cover the potholes it is repairing. The damaged spot is cleaned of dust and debris via compressed air, supplied by a powerful fan located on the machine body. If necessary, during cold weather or in the case of overgrowing weeds a front mounted gas burner can be used to remove any kind of biological foreign objects in the hole as well as bringing the surface up to temperature to ensure proper adhesion and prevent damages to the repaired spot.
Afterwards the cleaned surface will be primed with a layer of bitumen emulsion before aggregate and emulsion are brought into the hole, filling it from bottom to top. The machine offers a split bunker which enables the operator to use bigger aggregate at the base of the hole to produce a sturdy structure before finishing it with a smaller fractioned aggregate for a smooth surface. The working process can be undertaken with minimal
After traffic disturbance and roads re-opened to traffic immediately after work is finished.
Safe and durable
Operator safety has been in our focus from the beginning, it is for this reason we have designed a machine which enables the operator to stay in his driver’s cabin at all times and keeps himself safe from the dangers of working in live traffic. We fully support the ‘Boots off the ground’ initiative by giving the operator all the controls he needs right next to his seat. Partial automation makes operator training and learning phases quick and easy which in turn reduces downtimes and improves quality of work.
The process of Blow-Patching has proven its durability in a multitude of trials and its long history of use on all kinds of roads. This includes agricultural and rural roads which have been trialed in 2018 as a repair prior to surface dressing in Cumbria, it has also proven to be a reliable surface correction method prior to laying cold mix asphalt or fiber enhanced micro surfacing. Another trial in the UK was done the same year in Slough where roads in a residential area and at the drop-off point of a school have been made pothole free. In addition 2 major damages in front of a traffic calming zone have been filled and leveled, reducing the noise of traffic and strain on road user’s cars.
Blow-Patching has shown to be reliable enough for cities like Paris to use them on a nightly basis to repair damages to their motorway ring, keeping their most important traffic asset in good condition. This is achieved by reducing the amount of dry aggregate to a minimum, thus avoiding loose chips and speed limits on newly patched parts of the road.
Schäfer-Technic is proud to be take part in improving Britain’s roads by delivering the best product possible as well as providing full technical and operational support for operators and councils alike. Our long established and trusted service partner Highway Service located in Newcastle upon Tyne offers emergency assistance as well as spare parts, additional operator training, assistance in calibration and maintenance. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.schaefer-technic.com
Equal investment needed to keep roads on the straight and narrow
The government has recently announced that 32 local authorities will receive investment for essential repair work on their roads. But how will the funding boost connectivity, level up infrastructure and make journeys easier?
The number of miles driven on UK roads with several having less than £9,000 has continued to grow exponentially. per mile to maintain their local roads. Over 327 billion miles were driven in Local authorities in England report that Great Britain in 2017, about 50 billion around 55 per cent of their highways higher than 20 years ago, and double maintenance budgets come from central what it was 20 years before that. government sources – predominantly
The 2019 Annual Local Authority Road via the Department for Transport – with Maintenance (ALARM) survey reported the remaining 45 per cent coming from that, for the second consecutive year, local local authorities’ own sources, including authorities’ highway maintenance budgets council reserves and borrowing. In Wales, have increased overall by almost 20 per just over 70 per cent is allocated through cent. For councils in England and London the Welsh Assembly Government. this included a share of £420 million The latest ALARM survey, released additional funding allocated in towards the end of March, the November 2018 Budget. showed that the Chancellor’s The same report also additional £2.5 billion emphasised the wide disparity that exists across England, London and Wales between the haves and have nots in all areas of highway maintenance funding and the significant challenges that still remain. Some local authorities, for Roads Minister Baroness Vere has announced that 32 local authorities will soon receive investment for essential repair work on their roads Budget pothole pledge would not be enough to plug the gap in local road maintenance budgets, let alone the rising backlog of repairs. In fact, the Asphalt Industry Alliance, who produce the survey, argued that the green shoots of improving conditions example, received highway reported in 2019 have maintenance pots equivalent not been sustained, with to more than £90,000 per mile local authorities having to cope of their individual networks, while a third with an average drop in overall highway continue to struggle with reduced budgets, maintenance budgets of 16 per cent. With overall local authority spending down, ALARM 2020 reports that this shortfall is now an average of £4.9 million (£5.4 million in England) for local authorities across England, London and Wales, up from £3.9 million last year. The research reveals that the are 7,240 fewer miles of road reported to be in good structural condition this year, with 15 years or more of life remaining, and 1,100 more miles of roads classed as POOR, with less than five year’s life remaining.
London being prioritised
At the start of the year, the County Councils Network revealed that substantial regional disparities in local investment in England’s roads was plaguing the country, with investment in pothole filling three times higher in London compared to rural areas. Shire authorities claimed that lower funding for shire counties and regional investment being disproportionately skewed towards urban areas has consequently left motorists in their areas ‘poor relations’ to those in the major cities. The County Councils Network used their findings to call for a fair share of the government’s £2 billion pothole fund and a long-term commitment to ‘level up’ investment.
Six weeks later, Roads Minister Baroness Vere announced that 32 local authorities will soon receive investment for essential E
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The green shoots of improving conditions reported in 2019 have not been sustained, with local authorities having to cope with an average drop in overall highway maintenance budgets of 16 per cent
repair work on their roads. Ensuring that communities around the country receive the boost to connectivity, which the government hopes will level up infrastructure, she said that the investment includes more than £4 million for crucial repairs to the New Elvet Bridge in Durham along with £3.7 million to help refurbish several steel bridges around Northumberland. In total, the 32 local authorities have been awarded a share of £93.4 million to repair roads and bridges.
Elsewhere, Norfolk County Council will receive more than £2.5 million to improve the highway surface on the A1122 Marham, whilst urgent work will be actioned on retaining walls on the Derwent Valley highway, on the A6, with Derbyshire County Council awarded £4.8 million. Blackpool Council will use £4.4 million of funding on the treatment of the local strategic network, a review of drainage infrastructure and the filling on of a disused subway beneath the Promenade and Tramway.
One of the projects to receive funding for tech projects will see the development of a new AI-powered app to detect potholes in real-time, using mobile phone sensors to measure when cyclists ride over or swerve to avoid them. It is hoped the app will help local authorities to quickly identify when potholes are forming and take quicker action to fill them. Baroness Vere said: “There is nothing more frustrating than a journey delayed by poor road conditions, and this multi-million pound boost will help improve connectivity across the country. This investment will not only help local areas to target current pinch points on their roads, but will also harness our world-leading research and innovation capabilities to future proof the next generation of journeys.”
Referring back to CCN analysis, last year the 36 shire counties were able to spend £20,885 per mile on road repairs, pothole filling, and constructing new junctions and networks. In comparison, the 31 councils in London are able to spend £62,350 per mile. The 36 urban metropolitan councils spent £41,929 per mile, while England’s eight ‘core cities’ are in a position to invest £57,241 per mile. Furthermore, councils in London plan to spend double the amount of almost every single region in England.
Additionally, 11,117 miles of road network in shire counties were identified as requiring maintenance last year – this is nine per cent of the total mileage in counties and over fifteen times higher, in terms of mileage, than the figure in London. In the capital, 730 miles, or eight per cent of the total mileage, require repair at some point in the future, and in other urban authorities the figure is six per cent or 1,537 miles.
Potholes, but what about road markings?
The Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) expressed its support for the recent Budget announcement in which Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged £2.5 billion of government money to fix potholes in England. However, the association stresses that the question of when the government intends to address the dire state of road markings across the country remains unanswered. The RSMA argues that, whether national or local, ministers must take a holistic approach to the maintenance of highway infrastructure and not focus solely on potholes.
Speaking following the 11 March Budget, Stu McInroy, RSMA chief executive, said: “We are fully supportive of all efforts that are made to make roads safer for users, however it appears that road markings, once again, are not considered when funding decisions are made. We have stated time and again that well maintained road markings are a key component in delivering safer roads for all users. Road markings are widely overlooked in terms of road safety however, improved or redesigned road markings can achieve an improvement in road safety comparable to expensive engineering and highway restructuring solutions at significantly less cost.
“With targets for autonomous vehicles still being pushed, careful consideration should be given sooner rather than later to address the need for bringing road markings up to the standard required. The alternative will be a retrospective panic when highly capable vehicles that are unsupported by appropriate infrastructure attempt to use our road network.” L
FURTHER INFORMATION
