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India Risk Review 2018

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 10, 2018November 14, 2024020 mins

Security needs collaboration at individual, organizational, industrial, national and global levels. Networking and knowledge sharing are the key drivers for mitigating challenges in today’s complex security environment. India dealt with the economic implications of big-ticket items like demonetization and GST. Even as violence level of Maoist and Northeast insurgencies showed a downward trend, Jammu & Kashmir remained on the boil. Along with the unrest in the border states of the country, civil disturbances in the Indian heartland have continued to occur with various special interest groups agitating to get their demands met – prominent among them being the farmers and identity-based groups. Meanwhile, cyber security continued to be an area of concern during 2017 as in the previous years, with cyber-attacks like ‘WannaCry’ occurring frequently. The year gone by was tumultuous, and a defining one for India from the economic and security perspective. The twin macroeconomic initiatives, in the form of remonetisation and introduction of GST brought about a major upheaval in the cash dependant Indian economy, whose overall impact would be felt in the ensuing years. GST, despite some infirmities, gave a boost to the federal structure and would be a unifying factor by acting as a catalyst for seamless interstate trade. The GST council will become a powerful forum for economic equity. The Indian economy buoyed by reforms and upgradation of the ease of doing business index would grow significantly in the next few years. The Political The political scenario continued to get increasingly polarised with caste and communal politics making a comeback. Slow job growth in the hinterland continues to pose risks of social unrest; fanned by political rhetorics, and would need careful monitoring. The internal security scenario showed improvement and this trend would continue. The Rohingya refugee crisis has been handled satisfactorily by the government, else it would have posed some long-term security risks. Overall, 2018 would usher in improved economic dynamics and a reasonably stable security scenario. – Lt. Gen. Sudhir Sharma (Retd.) PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM Chairman, MitKat As we move into 2018, security professionals world-wide will face dynamic and more evolving security threats. With other traditional security threats, terrorism and geopolitical stress will remain areas of concern, along with non-traditional threats in both the physical and cyber realms. Civil unrest, agitations and protests by parties and groups will continue to disrupt business activities, especially in the major cities. Natural hazards such as floods, cyclones and other extreme weather events will pose an increasing threat to the security and business continuity. Keeping in view the ever-changing dynamic security environment in India, it is important to constantly monitor the external threats. Overall business climate in India in 2018 India has adopted a variety of economic reform measures during 2017; most notably the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demonetization drive that have impacted Indian businesses across the economic spectrum. In October 2017 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed India’s growth forecast by 0.5 percentage points to 6.7 percent in 2017. It has also lowered the growth projection for 2018 to 7.4 per cent from its earlier estimate in April and June of 7.7 per cent. The IMF forecast is in line with a number of recent projections that have scaled down India’s growth prospects for the fiscal due to disruptions from demonetization and GST, despite the government’s strong defense of the moves. GDP growth hit a three-year low of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the fiscal. However, the IMF is more optimistic about medium- term growth prospects for India through gains from the new indirect tax levy. India jumped 30 spots in the rankings to 100th place out of 190 countries in the recent World Bank Doing Business report. The Central Government also plans to release a state wise ease of doing business ranking by February 2018 in order to encourage competition and increase transparency. Another vote of confidence in the Indian economy has been the upgrading of India’s sovereign rating by Moody’s to Baa2 (Investment Grade – Stable Outlook), the first such upgrade after 13 years. The rationale behind this upgrade is a strong acknowledgment and endorsement of structural-reforms in the past three years, which are slowly but surely fructifying. The deep rooted and far sighted reforms like financial inclusion (getting the poorest access to the formal banking system), and direct benefit transfer of subsidies (and thereby minimizing pilferage), have significantly led to strengthening of economy. PSU bank recapitalization, aimed at reducing the problem of NPAs in the banking system, is another positive step. Bold foreign direct investment reforms have taken place in 21 sectors along with significant reforms in defence, railways, construction, insurance, pension, civil aviation and pharmaceuticals sectors. Top Business Risks in 2018 Public protests/ strikes Public protests have resulted in serious disruptions during 2017 as most of the protests were spearheaded by farmer unions, labour unions, textile workers and bank employees. The textile industry has suffered a loss of an estimated INR 40,000 crore due to the protest against GST since July 1. The protest by bank employees all over India also led to losses of billions of rupees and this was also reflected in the stock markets over the next few days. Protests against infrastructure projects and land acquisition have also had a significant impact and will continue to do so in 2018 owing to the larger time frame of these projects. The blockade and protests against the Vizhinjam transshipment port led by local fishermen resulted in large losses and delays. Natural disasters Major metropolitan cities continue to remain underprepared to handle severe flooding resulting from the annual monsoons, which usually run from June to September. Many parts of Mumbai, Delhi and Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are submerged due to waterlogging, resulting in severe disruption to businesses. Extreme flooding brought Mumbai to a standstill in July 2017. India on average suffers an economic loss of US$7 billion each year because of floods, according to the United Nations. In Assam over 5,300 hectares of agricultural…

SSSDC Performed Knowledge Partner

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 9, 2018November 14, 202412 mins

Security Sector Skill Development Council (SSSDC) made valuable contributions to the 12th Security Skills and Leadership Summit, held under the aegis of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and the Association of Private Detectives and Investigators (APDI) during 16-17 December 2017 at Le-Meridian, New Delhi, as their Knowledge Partner.& During the Summit the Council conducted a discussion on the much-awaited job role of the fireman. This job is in its final stage of being accorded approval by the National Skill Development Agency, the apex body of approving vocational job roles for the skilling ecosystem. The discussion was orchestrated by the COO of SSSDC and the participants included experts in the field of firefighting mechanisms. The highlight of the event was the update presented by the CEO of SSSDC on the achievements of the Council since the last Leadership Summit, and that culminated in the unveiling of the inaugural edition of its annual magazine ‘Kaleidoscope.’Another memorable highlight of the two-day event was the participation of 15 tribal girls undergoing security course in the Maoist infected area of Jharkhand. As is the norm, the outstanding performance of the staff of the Council, as well as the training providers and assessment bodies were suitably recognized and awarded. They received their respective awards from the Hon’ble Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, and the erstwhile Maharaja of Sirohi, His Excellency Raghubir Singh respectively.

Catalyzing Progress and Vision of the Security Industry

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 9, 2018November 14, 202408 mins

UBM India has successfully concluded its 11th edition of the three-day International Fire & Security Exhibition and Conference (IFSEC) India Expo 2017 held during 6-8 December in New Delhi. The show brought together internationally business experts, and the key government officials on one common platform to discuss global best practices and concepts such as smart cities, and to seek solutions for challenges in the security and fire domain. It also provided informative demos and a wealth of opportunities for the visitors to network, and learn about cutting-edge technologies,industry trends, challenges, market insights and discover the best solutions to keep their business and clients secured. The inaugural ceremony of IFSEC India 2017 took place in the presence of key dignitaries such as Gopal K Pillai, Chairman, Data Security Council of India & Former Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India; Shiv Charan Yadav, President, Asian Professional Security Association (APSA); Anil Dhawan, Co-Chair, ASSOCHAM Homeland Security; Commander Deepak Uppal, Director, Price water house Coopers (PwC); Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India; and Pankaj Jain, Group Director, UBM India, amidst an august industry gathering. This year, the expo saw participation from countries such as UK, USA,China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Lithuania, South Africa, Russia and Turkey etc., from the commercial security domain, and displayed over 300 brands. The Expo was supported by Asian Professional Security Association (APSA), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Electronic Security Association of India (ESAI), Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), along with Assocham as Strategic Partner and PwC as the Knowledge Partner. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “The flourishing economy and rapid growth in sectors such as airports, construction, energy,ports, telecom, railways, road and retail,coupled with the influx of multinational companies have been the primary driving force for creating demand for the security industry. The government of India has also made its intention clear to revamp the country’s ailing infrastructure by announcing new airports, ports, and by building 100 smart cities across the nation. While implementing these schemes, it is necessary that the aspects of ‘safety’ and ‘security’ which are of prime concerns in urban areas are also incorporated.” PwC, the knowledge partner of IFSEC India launched a white paper on ‘Maximizing the benefits of a command and control Centre (CCC)’ that primarily talks about today’s key challenges of command and control Centre (CCC) utilization for the concept of operations, and co-locating various command centres for integrated operations. With the increasing focus on Homeland security in India, IFSEC India 2017 conducted a one day conference with the theme ‘Secure Nation and Safer Environment’ alongside the exhibition where relevant insights gained in the global security market were discussed. IFSEC India also convened their 2nd edition of IFSEC India Awards. The electronic security industry in India is proliferating and the awards were crafted to felicitate the minds behind the security of various industry verticals like BFSI, retail and manufacturing, energy, healthcare, PSUs, IT & ITES, and infrastructure in the limelight. The awards recognized the excellence and innovations of CSOs and security officers who continuously work behind the scenes to ensure robust security. With the need for robust and updated security technologies to gain momentum with each passing day, UBM India through IFSEC India 2017 showcased the latest know how in the industry and deciphered relevant insights gained in the global security market. It provided an opportunity to its exhibitors and visitors to discover the best solutions to keep their business and clients secure amongst a showcase of innovative products – Yogesh Mudras Managing Director, UBM India It is the ardent need for policy makers to get more serious about adopting technologies in homeland security due to the growing threats from terrorists and other extremist organisations – G. K. Pillai Chairman, DSCI & Former Home Secretary,Government of India UBM India has maintained its leadership in security industry yet again with its 11th edition ofIFSEC India 2017. The expo exhibited wide range of innovative security products and solutions, convened a one day conference on Homeland Security and Smart Cities in association with ASSOCHAM, and conducted an award ceremony for end users representing Government, Public sector and Private sectors. It is a true platform for security professionals to interact and develop knowledge – Anil Dhawan Co-Chairman, Homeland Security Committee, ASSOCHAM & Managing Director, DB Secure Solution Private Limited IFSEC provides an opportunity for the surveillance and system integrator industries to come together to exchange ideas, showcase the latest technologies and discuss industry issues and trends. As a leader in storage solutions for surveillance systems, Western Digital considers IFSEC to be an important event in our marketing calendar – Khwaja Saifuddin Sr. Sales Director, South Asia, ME & Africa, Western Digital

Security Skill and Leadership Summit 2017

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 8, 2018November 14, 2024010 mins

The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and Association of Private Detectives and Investigators, India convened their 12th Annual Conference – Security Skills & Leadership Summit 2017 – during 16 and 17 December 2017 at the Le-Meridian, New Delhi. The conference was opened by Gen. V K Singh (Retd.), the Minister of State for External Affairs, GoI, who asked private security agencies to upgrade their skills and adopt modern technologies to make India a safer place. The conference was at-tended by security professionals from all over India. “Our security environment is changing fast; our streets may not be as Therefore, it is important for the private security agencies to wake up to the growing challenges related to public safety and security,” Gen. Singh said, “The sphere of private security agencies has increased many times and so have the challenges. The industry needs to look into the challenges of providing better trained and better equipped manpower.” CAPSI Chairperson, Kunwar Vikram Singh has written a comprehensive letter to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, and sought his intervention in resolving long standing issues of the private security sector which have been hurting its growth,particularly those related to the unfair imposition of GST which is putting unfavorable financial burden on agencies,and the imposition of new draconian rule under which agency owners would be held guilty and penalized for the crimes committed by their guards. “Private security sector currently employs 70 lakh private security guards and supervisors working in 22,000 private security agencies. It is one of the largest private sector employers in India. The sector is growing at the annual rate of 22% and it is one of the largest corporate tax contributor as on date, but unfortunately it is yet in a neglected stature,” Kunwar Vikram Singh is said to have quoted in his letter to the Prime Minister. “We have urged the Prime Minister to pro-actively consider our demands and save the sector which could prove crucial for the success of Skill India and also in generating jobs,” he apprised the delegates, “The Prime Minister has asked the Union Home Ministry to look into our concerns on urgent basis.” “We further demanded that GST should be made applicable on reverse charge basis for the security agencies whereby service takers would be made liable to pay the tax, not the service providers. We work on 3-months credit and our payments are often delayed, nonetheless, we make the payment of salaries to our personnel in time. It is unaffordable for us to make an upfront payment of additional 18% GST. The GST regime is a setback and is badly hurting us. Many agencies have already been made to close their business due to this undesirable burden.If this continues, our sector will die in distress and lakhs of people will be renderd jobless,” Kunwar Vikram Singh added. The forum discussed the urgent need to amend the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005, in consultation with the security agencies. A recent provision to penalize the employers for the crime committed by their guard is draconian and needs to be withdrawn immediately. Owners cannot be held accountable for the negligence of their guards or supervisors. The forum discussed the urgent need to amend the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005, in consultation with the security agencies. A recent provision to penalize the employers for the crime committed by their guard is draconian and needs to be withdrawn immediately. Owners cannot be held accountable for the negligence of their guards or supervisors. “This is a highly objectionable rule which will lead to chaos, we demand its immediate withdrawal,” Mr. Singh continued. CAPSI also demands for a fair tender process by the government/ PSUs who often clear the tender of some private companies at 0% or nominal rates. This is not feasible and would promote corrupt and unethical business model. “We need a fair tender process by the government or public sector undertakings (PSUs) which is necessary to promote competition,” he added, “Any anti-competitive practice leads to cartelization and obstructs the sector’s growth.” NSDC has recently derecognized 200 training centers run by the security agencies across India in an abrupt manner, including those in semi-urban and rural areas. Their sudden closure and arbitrary change in policy have rendered many youth jobless. “This is against the spirit of Skill India,” CAPSI Chairman stated in astonishment, “On the contrary, today we need more centers in rural and semi-urban areas to improve job opportunities for the rural youth. Also, the certificates issued by these training centers and NSDC should be recognized by the state bodies which is surprisingly not the case at present.” The Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram addressed the valedictory ceremony and admired the private security sector for playing a significant role in creating employment opportunities for the tribal people. “Lakhs of tribal people are working today as security guards in metro cities, and IT hubs of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. Government is considering formulating a special policy whereby these tribals can be benefited from the Modi Government’s Skill India initiative, and which will improve their employability. It will also help in tackling the problem of Naxalism,” Mr. Oram said, “There are 136 tribal dominated districts where we plan to focus under Skill India programme.Private security is one such sector where our tribal people can get good employment opportunities. Tribals are the most honest and hardworking people and they are real asset for the country. We will take help from CAPSI to ensure more and more tribals can get good employment opportunities and help them join the national main stream.” As government cannot meet all the requirements of security, we are becoming more dependent on private security, particularly to private individuals and organizations. The private agencies should take on this…

International

a&s Ranked Dahua Globally Top 3

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 5, 2018November 14, 202404 mins

Security 50 is one of the most comprehensive and influential reports in the industry that ranks the top security manufacturers in the world. The annual Security 50 ranking is based upon product sales revenue, gross profit and profit margin during the previous fiscal year. With a sales revenue of CNY13.33 billion (US$1.93 billion) and 32.26% annual growth from 2015, Dahua jumped to the top 3 this year and moved one position higher than last year’s ranking. “It is a great honor to be recognized once again by the 2017 Security 50 and we are delighted to become one of the top three companies in the security industry,” said Fu Liquan, Chairman of Dahua Technology, “This outstanding performance demonstrates Dahua’s continuing dedication to innovation in the application of video surveillance.” In 2016, Dahua put forth new value propositions comprising innovation, quality and services, to create value for the city management, business operations and consumer living. Dahua’s continued high investment in R&D, which reached 10.69% of sales revenue this year, has culminated in a full series of innovative smart products based on deep learning technology, including front-end and back-end products that support facial recognition, electronic police video check points, and structured video servers. The year also experienced rapid development within the security industry, which has led distributors and integrators to enhance business value by transforming their strategy from product sales to the construction of complete security systems. To meet changing and diverse customer needs around the world, Dahua has released a series of customizable end-to-end security solutions. To better serve its customers and partners in over 180 countries and territories, Dahua has established 35 subsidiaries around the globe, covering the Asia Pacific region, North America, South America, Europe and Africa. To enhance localization, Dahua overseas subsidiaries have recruited local talents to provide better sales, marketing, and technical support to local customers and partners. In 2017, the global security industry is facing an unprecedented opportunity presented by the era of AI, and Dahua has been strengthening its core capabilities, exploring adjacent technologies and business sectors, and integrating its business value chain. Dahua is pragmatically driving the implementation of new technologies to help customers take advantage of this market transition.

Product

DHOP Brings Infinite Cooperation Possibilities

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 5, 2018November 14, 202405 mins

Dahua’s recent breakthrough gives integrators, resellers and users unprecedented levels of access to its newly launched DHOP (Dahua Open Platform), which allows third-party applications to be downloaded and installed on Dahua network cameras (currently only available on the Ultra series IP cameras but in the future will be available on all new models). DHOP is user-friendly in several ways. For third-party partners, it eliminates some of the previous restrictions from Dahua, allowing them to develop their own applications. They can also develop their own webpage/ web clients to manage their applications. For integrators, resellers and end users, it provides them with choices for the most suitable add-on applications developed by third-party partners, which have been comprehensively tested and verified by Dahua, thus their interoperability and reliability have been guaranteed. Cooperation with Dahua through DHOP will bring wider benefits in the long-term. Strong support is guaranteed not only during development but also during the later stages. Verified and tested applications will be released on Dahua’s website, boasting access to a global user base. DHOP partners have the potential to participate in various marketing activities and be promoted via the Dahua global partner networks. End users can purchase licenses directly from DHOP partners, for whom Dahua will help to release the license in cameras. AxxonSoft Ltd. was the first one to develop a solution based on the Dahua Open Platform. An application installed on the camera collects information about moving objects in the frame, including coordinates, direction of movement, size, speed, color, and so on. This metadata is transmitted to the Axxon Next VMS server along with the video stream. The data is then used for powerful scene analytics in the Axxon Next VMS, and saved in the archive for instant criteria-based video search. The joint solution by Dahua Technology and AxxonSoft has multiple advantages over systems with serverside video analytics, since it allows the server to process about 10 times more video feeds, and passing raw metadata (instead of events) makes the system very flexible. Users are not limited to the detection tools available on a camera, since they can use any of the Axxon Next VMS video analytics tools – detection of line-crossing, motion and stopping in a restricted area, loitering, abandoned objects etc. The Axxon Moment Quest fast video search system is also based on metadata and does not require pre-configuring detection tools. The video search criteria are set on the fly (for example, find a red car in the parking lot), which makes it truly interactive. “Our joint solution, without exaggeration, brings smart video surveillance systems to a new level of accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Initial investments are reduced due to significantly lower equipment costs. At the same time, the system stays current for a long time due to the continual development of Axxon Next video analytics and free updates,” notes Alan Ataev, AxxonSoft Global Sales Director. “We believe this Open Platform will gather all sorts of exciting new ideas and innovative solutions in the field, and by combining our strengths we will benefit the industry as a whole and the world in general,” said James Wang, Deputy General Manager of Dahua Overseas Business.

National

Dahua Thumbs up at IFSEC India

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 5, 2018November 14, 202406 mins

Dahua Technology received enormous response for its security products and solutions at the recently held IFSEC India 2017 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi organized by UBM India. The three day event from 6 to 8 December 2018 was a mix of exhibition, conferences, as well as presentation of awards to the outstanding end users, and it was a grand success. Robbin Shen, Managing Director, Dahua Technology India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are highly delighted by the huge turnout of security professionals and people from all walks of life as security is important for everyone. Our booth was literally overflowing with security experts and enthusiasts right from the start of the exposition. We have also gotten significant business leads. Our product launches and solutions showcased were a resounding success. IFSEC India 2017 has really offered us an ideal launching pad to reach out far and wide in India. The credits for the success here go to our dedicated team, Aditya Infotech and our channel partners.” Dahua also celebrated its 10 year association with its national distributor M/s. Aditya Infotech Ltd by cutting a large cake. Michael Chen, Vice President and James Wang Deputy General Manager, Overseas Business, Dahua Technology along with Robbin Shen; and Aditya Khemka, MD, Aditya Infotech attended the memorable moment and stressed upon the need to work closely for future progress and success. Walking campaign with Dahua Mascots going in and around the exhibition venue was the centre of attraction at Pragati Maidan. Dahua also launched their new security products for the Indian market. Artificial intelligence Leveraging years of rich experience in R&D using CPU, DSP, GPU and FPGA chipset platforms Dahua has successfully developed powerful Artificial Intelligence for video surveillance systems with advanced algorithms for facial recognition, abnormal behaviors analysis and high density crowd detection. Dahua’s AI is also very helpful for video surveillance applications, particularly in transportation segment such as vehicle license plate recognition (VLPR), container serial number recognition (CSNR) and recognition of text captured by normal surveillance. To further realize AI and video related technologies in smart IoT solutions, Dahua built on its theme of ‘Cloud ecosystem for smart future’ presenting the fusion of cloud computing, big data, deep learning and IoT with security technologies. Machine vision Dahua introduced their new Machine Vision product to the Indian market covering area scan/ line scan (GigE & USB 3.0) industry camera with focal length and low distortion optical lens. It supports various output formats for image data, ROI, binning, mirror, sharpness, noise reduction, gamma correction, LUT, black level correction, brightness, contrast and other ISP functions. It also supports PoE power supply and DC-26V wide range power supply. Dahua’s Machine Vision conforms to CE, FCC, UL & RoHS certifications. The products comes in different models to suit different customers’ needs. Cybersecurity Dahua Technology understands the importance of cybersecurity and strives to keep its products as secure as possible, and to educate its customers and endusers so that they have the information they need to make their networks safer. From the technology perspective, Dahua has created an independent security lab which is responsible for implementation of Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) standards, network security standards and secured coding standards. In addition to internal detection tools and platforms Dahua has also partnered with an industry-leading thirdparty testing agency. Following CMMI guidelines.to safeguard customers and end users, Dahua has put together a comprehensive list of best practices on how to make a video surveillance system more resilient against vulnerabilities. Solutions showcased Dahua’s pavilion displayed a wide range of its security products, solutions and latest technologies mobile surveillance, smart city, drone, video cloud, HDCVI 4.0, intelligent building, intelligent network transmission, transportation, smart home, smart retail, all environmental, ultra HD, thermal imaging, and video conference, video intercom and control center, and drone.

ASIS Opens Call for Presentations

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaDecember 16, 2017November 14, 202402 mins

ASIS International has opened the call for presentations for its 64th Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2018), taking place during 23-27 September 2018 in Las Vegas that is expected to attract 22,000+ registrants from more than 95 countries. Produced in partnership with the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and InfraGard, ASIS 2018 will deliver the most comprehensive education program for operational and cybersecurity professionals from the public and private sector. The conference program will feature 180+ education sessions addressing the full spectrum of risk from contemporary security threats including IoT security, crisis management and response, and AI and robotics, to day to day security challenges including guard force management, data protection, and enterprise security risk management (ESRM). The program selection committee is looking for: Security-related content that will challenge and inspire. Proposals at the intermediate to advanced levels. Case studies and benchmarks with actionable takeaways. Immersive learning formats that engage attendees. Proposals developed by security end-users are preferred.

INTERPOL UPDATES

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaDecember 16, 2017November 14, 2024010 mins

INTERPOL Cracks Massive Human Trafficking Ring Operation rescues 500 victims, lead to 40 arrests Nearly 500 victims of human trafficking, including 236 minors, have been rescued following an INTERPOL operation carried out simultaneously across Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. In total, 40 suspected traffickers were arrested and will now face prosecution for offences including human trafficking, forced labour and child exploitation. They are accused of forcing victims to engage in activities ranging from begging to prostitution, with little to no regard for working conditions or human life. In one case, a 16-year old Nigerian girl was promised work in Mali which would allow her to care for her family. She was taken on by a ‘sponsor’ who then forced her into prostitution to reimburse her travel costs. In another case, a 15-year old was in the process of being sold into forced labour by suspected traffickers and was intercepted just before the transaction could be completed. The victim was found holding a blue plastic bag containing their entire possessions. To ensure that victims received the necessary care following their rescue, the International Office for Migration (IOM) and several NGOs were involved in post-operation interviews and treatment. Operation Epervier was held under the aegis of the Sahel Project, an initiative funded by the German Foreign Office which targets the organized crime groups behind human trafficking across the region. Officers from INTERPOL’s Regional Bureaus in Abidjan and Yaounde assisted in coordinating the operation, which also included specialist officers from INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings unit at its General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France. “In addition to arrests, this operation has opened a number of ongoing investigations to further disrupt the crime networks involved in trafficking in human beings, emphasizing the effectiveness of such operations via INTERPOL’s international network,” said Yoro Traore, a Police Inspector with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Bamako. “The results of this operation underline the challenge faced by law enforcement and all stakeholders in addressing human trafficking in the Sahel region,” said InnocentiaApovo, Criminal Intelligence officer with INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings Unit and coordinator of the operation. She also thanked the German Foreign Office for their continued support of such initiatives. The operation was followed by a regional working group meeting in Cotonou, gathering 100 participants from 15 countries across West Africa and the Sahel. Discussions focused on the outcomes of Operation Epervier as well as the way forward for future activities in the region. “This type of regional exchange is important to ensure that good and not so good practices are shared, to ensure that we collectively improve on prevention, protection and prosecution,” said Anke Strauss, IOM’s Chief of missions in Mauritania. INTERPOL Fights Against Child Sexual Abuse The Kenya Police, with support from the UK National Crime Agency has launched a dedicated national Child Protection Unit uniting law enforcement and children’s services agencies to safeguard young people from sexual exploitation. This initiative, which could serve as a model for other countries worldwide to help tackle the growing concern of child sexual abuse, was among the issues discussed recently by international child protection experts, who gathered to discuss the latest tools and techniques for preventing the spread of child sexual abuse material and identifying the young victims to protect them from further harm. The four-day (14-17 November) INTERPOL Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children meeting provided an overview of global efforts and technical solutions for combating online child sexual abuse, identifying victims and their attackers, and disrupting criminal networks involved in producing and circulating abuse material. More than 200 participants from some 60 countries, regional and international organizations, the private sector and academia also heard case studies of successful investigations – including on travelling sex offenders – in addition to addressing topics such as prevention strategies, abuse material analysis and the use of the Darknet. The participants were also updated on the WePROTECT Global Alliance, an international multi-stakeholder initiative dedicated to national and global action to end the sexual exploitation of children online which brings together more than 70 countries, as well as international organizations, industry partners and civil society organizations. Ernie Allen, Chairman of the WePROTECT Global Alliance, underscored the challenges faced by law enforcement globally in tackling child sexual abuse, including technological developments such as live streaming and social media, use of the Darknet to provide anonymity, travelling offenders, and under reporting of abuse cases. The WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation is an international movement dedicated to national and global action to end the sexual exploitation of children online. “This is not a problem that any single country or institution can handle alone. It is a global crime which requires global cooperation, said Mr. Allen, “We need vision, innovation and leadership, which INTERPOL is providing. INTERPOL, and everyone around the world who has devoted their lives to combating crimes against children, should be proud of the extraordinary progress made so far, though there is much still to be done.” Stressing the global aspect of crimes against children, INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, Tim Morris highlighted the Organization’s efforts to provide dedicated support to member countries by deploying expert staff to INTERPOL offices in Asia and South America, and training existing staff at the four INTERPOL Regional Bureaus in Africa to increase their knowledge on child sexual abuse issues. “A child can be physically abused in one country, with the images easily distributed around the world, often in real time. We therefore need to bridge regions and cultures, raise awareness and build capacity to tackle these heinous crimes everywhere they might occur,” said Mr Morris. During the conference, dedicated regional workshops allowed participants to focus on the unique challenges present in each part of the world. INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children team also presented an award to ECPAT, a network of civil society organizations in 93 countries, recognizing its work in preventing child sexual exploitation through programmes to confront trafficking for sexual purposes; the exploitation of children through prostitution and…

Twin City Hardware Shifts to Vanderbilt ACT365

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaDecember 16, 2017November 14, 202406 mins

Twin City Hardware (TCH) has more than 130 years of experience providing opening and access solutions for commercial, architectural and residential construction projects throughout the United States. Over the past half-century, TCH has continued along a robust growth path, and is now one of the premier commercial technology and service suppliers in the country. TCH, a Vanderbilt integrator partner, works closely with end user organizations on security enhancement projects. It focuses on providing access control solutions for a variety of customers – from small businesses with a handful of doors/ readers, to enterprise organizations, including higher education and healthcare campuses. The challenge The company’s New Hope, Minn., location has a large inventory and many staff who work varying shifts throughout the day. The facility was originally secured with mechanical hardware and keys, which are less secure than newer door solutions, especially in the instance that a key is lost or access to the facility needs to be restricted. “Key control is always the hardest part of access control,” said Dan Siroin, Integrated Access Systems Manager, TCH. TCH was unable to know who was entering and exiting the building at any given time, which led to security, building management and privacy concerns. “It’s important in the instance of an alarm that we know who is present in the building,” he said, “With mechanical keys and locks, we didn’t have critical information.” The solution TCH was introduced to the Vanderbilt ACT365 cloud-based access control and video management solution that added additional value to Vanderbilt’s core technology offerings and came with its strategic acquisition of Access Control Technologies (ACT). TCH was interested in how the ACT365 solution could be a strong addition to its product and services suite, and decided to pilot ACT365 at one of its administrative offices. TCH deployed a focused solution consisting of two readers and two cameras in the facility to test the product’s capabilities. Administrators can provide pin codes, access fobs and cards to employees as credentials to access the facility. These credentials can be easily enabled or disabled remotely if required. “Cloud-based systems are a unique niche fit for small- to medium-sized customers that have little to no network infrastructure or staff to incorporate a ‘use anywhere’ access control system,” Siroin said, “We believe that there is a great opportunity to deploy this to our customers, but we wanted to run the solution through our stringent testing process.” The scalable ACT365 cloud-based solution is designed to allow users to control and administer access control capabilities from anywhere, at any time and on any device. Each access control unit consists of a single-door IP controller and connects to Web-based software hosted in Microsoft Azure. Users can leverage either a Web-based device or a mobile application to quickly update or remove user permissions, view cameras associated with an access control event or open a door. Overall, it allows for simplistic management of multiple sites and users from a unified, friendly interface, and delivers new levels of situational awareness for users monitoring access privileges. “The mobile application provides the freedom to conduct most functions wherever you are,” Siroin said, “The system is very easy to use as well. Within a short period of time, I was able to manage access through both the mobile and Web portal with no training or support.” The results The ACT365 solution allows TCH to access a regular audit trail of who is in the building by monitoring card reader activity. ACT365 produces diagnostic reports on door status and can investigate situations such as door forced, door ajar and break glass activation either locally or remotely, allowing users to be alerted in the event of an incident. This results in more control for security directors to address situations as they occur in real-time instead of retrospectively.