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Guide to Securing Public Spaces with Diverse Security Systems and Tools

scenic walking areas in marina bay

Public parks, sidewalks and plazas are examples of open spaces, providing venues for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction. However, these areas can also pose safety risks, highlighting the need to implement security measures for enhanced public trust and harmony within cities.

The key to securing these spaces is enhancing visibility and accessibility. Visibility is achieved through constant monitoring to mitigate hidden threats and thoughtful design to ensure easy reach and observation. In this guide, we will explore how implementing effective security systems in Singapore can promote a culture of safety and vigilance. 

BASICS OF SECURITY SYSTEMS 

The Concept of Security Systems

Integral to modern safety infrastructure, security and protection systems encompass a variety of devices and methods designed to safeguard individuals and properties. These systems are engineered to rely on a primary electrical source with built-in battery backups, guaranteeing reliability even during power outages.

While the precise origins of security systems are not well-documented, humanity has employed protective techniques for centuries. Ancient methods such as locks and barred windows were among the earliest forms of household protection. As societies evolved, a distinction emerged between passive security measures—such as structural reinforcements—and active security approaches, which incorporate dynamic forms of protection.

Benefits of Installing Security Systems in Public Spaces

Installing security systems in Singapore’s public spaces brings numerous benefits. Not only do they reduce crimes but they also ensure rapid and effective responses during emergencies. Here’s how:

benefits of installing security systems in public spaces

1. Safety and Personal Protection

Security measures such as surveillance systems, access control, and the presence of trained security personnel help promote safety and personal protection in public spaces, workplaces, and residential areas. For instance, CCTV systems can potentially deter wrongdoers from committing illegal activities such as theft, vandalism, and assault, thereby contributing to a safer environment.

2. Prevention and Risk Mitigation

Effective security measures are vital for preventing incidents and mitigating risks. Through detailed risk assessments, security professionals can identify vulnerabilities and proactively address potential threats. Consider a leisure park with unmonitored entrances, inadequate lighting, and blind spots – these issues can be overcome by installing strategically placed cameras and improving lighting in poorly lit areas. Ultimately, these actions collectively help maintain a safe environment.

3. Emergency Response and Crisis Management

Emergency response and crisis management involve preparedness and coordinated actions to address unexpected events that can pose threats to individuals, property, or operations. These events include natural disasters like earthquakes or floods and security incidents like intrusions or thefts. Effective emergency response requires prompt actions by trained personnel and the seamless integration of advanced security systems. Surveillance, access control, and alarm systems provide real-time information and facilitate quick decision-making.

4. Protection of Property and Assets

Common security systems in Singapore like surveillance cameras and access control mechanisms work in tandem to safeguard buildings, equipment, and other valuable assets. These measures help prevent invasions, theft, vandalism, and other unlawful behaviours. This helps individuals and organisations avoid significant financial losses and operational disruptions.

image of a shattered glass door from vandalism

5. Building Trust and Confidence

Visible security measures instil trust and confidence among individuals using public spaces. Robust security systems reassure individuals, enhancing their comfort and sense of safety. This assurance encourages social interactions, community engagement, and greater utilisation of public spaces, fostering a positive and welcoming atmosphere.

EXPLORING DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS OF SECURITY SYSTEMS AND TOOLS

The Role of CCTV Systems in Crime Prevention

CCTV systems are powerful tools in crime prevention, deterring offenders, identifying criminals, and supplying important evidence. In this section, we discover how they contribute to modern security strategies.

Samsung CCTV monitoring dome camera

1. Assisting in Arrests

Strategically placed surveillance cameras are instrumental in facilitating prompt police responses and supporting the criminal justice system in apprehending and convicting criminals. Similarly, when incidents are identified early by camera operators, law enforcement can act quickly to increase the likelihood of arrest. These are some recommended areas to install a CCTV system:

  • Entrances and Exits

Installing cameras at all entry and exit points allows for the recording of individuals entering or leaving the premises. This is crucial for identifying suspects and tracking their movements.

  • High-Traffic Areas

CCTV cameras positioned in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as hallways, lobbies, and main pathways, capture a broad spectrum of activity and increase the likelihood of recording incidents like a security breach or suspicious activity.

  • Blind Spots

Blind spots refer to secluded corners, stairwells, alleys, and other areas within a monitored environment that are not visible to on-site security personnel. Placing CCTV cameras and blind spot mirrors in these areas helps in detecting activities that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Learn more: Applications and Advantages of Convex Mirrors in Safeguarding Property | Astrol Security

  • Vulnerable Locations

Certain locations such as ATMs and entrances to restricted zones require CCTV surveillance to ensure targeted monitoring. This proactive approach aids law enforcement in apprehending potential offenders in the act.

2. Identifying Potential Criminals

With CCTV systems, full-time security personnel can monitor high-risk zones and respond quickly to suspicious activities, reducing incidents of crimes such as robbery and assault. In retail establishments, trained staff can use surveillance cameras to identify telltale signs of shoplifting and theft, such as nervous behaviours.

3. Providing Crime Evidence

CCTV footage provides a visual record of events as they occur, detailing the sequence of events leading up to, during, and after a crime. This makes it reliable crime evidence, improving the chances of proving criminal activities in court. For example, surveillance footage from a casino that captures the actions of a cheating player can be used in prosecution.

CCTV footages on three monitors

4. CCTV as an Extra Set of Eyes

In remote areas, CCTV systems act as an extra set of eyes for security guards stationed in control rooms. By monitoring the CCTV feed on large screens, guards can promptly detect any suspicious activities across multiple locations. This setup enables more efficient and comprehensive surveillance.

5. Boosting Collective Efficacy

The visible presence of surveillance cameras reassures the community that neighbourhood safety is being actively prioritised. This visibility can boost optimism and civic pride among residents, promoting a stronger sense of community. When residents know their safety is prioritised, they are more likely to engage in community activities that strengthen bonds.

Improving Parking Lot Safety with Convex Mirrors

Convex mirrors, also known as diverging mirrors, convex traffic mirrors, or convex security mirrors, play a pivotal role in improving safety in parking lots. These mirrors feature a lens that curves outward, offering a wider angle of view compared to flat mirrors. The centre of the mirror, which bulges out the most and is where the light hits first, is often referred to as the focus. They produce a virtual image of the car park surroundings, making reflected vehicles appear smaller than actual size. Here are their benefits:

1. Providing a Wider Field of View

The primary advantage of convex mirrors is their ability to provide a broader field of view. In the car park, these mirrors allow drivers to see more of the area around them to navigate safely. 

image of convex mirrors

2. Reducing Blind Spots

Blind spots in parking lots are areas that drivers cannot see from their vehicles. These zones are particularly hazardous as they can lead to collisions, near-misses, and even accidents involving pedestrians. To eliminate these spots for elevated security levels, premise owners can strategically place convex mirrors at key points, such as at the ends of aisles and near entrances and exits.

3. Preventing Accidents

Convex mirrors minimise blind spots by offering a broader field of view, improving drivers’ overall visibility and situational awareness in parking lots and congested areas. This improved visibility reduces the likelihood of unexpected hazards, allowing drivers to detect and respond to potential dangers promptly. Such proactive measures contribute to creating a safer environment for both drivers and pedestrians in parking facilities.

Learn more: The Role of Blindspot Mirrors in Preventing Accidents | Astrol Security

Proper Usage and Placement of Convex Mirrors

  • Height

The mirrors should be mounted at a height for the average driver to see them easily. In general, this means positioning the mirrors at the eye level of a person sitting in a vehicle. 

  • Angle

Adjust the angle of the mirror so that it provides the maximum possible coverage of the area. This might involve some trial and error to find the optimal position.

  • Strategic Locations

Place mirrors at high-risk points, such as the ends of rows, corners, and intersections within the parking lot. These are the areas where visibility is most likely to be obstructed and where accidents are most likely to occur.

Efficient Traffic Management with Carpark Barriers

Whether manually operated or automated, car park barriers are indispensable tools in modern parking management systems. Typically composed of a horizontal beam linked to a vertical pillar, these barriers offer several functions that benefit businesses and patrons alike. 

image of a sommer barrier also known as carpark gantry barrier

1. Preventing Unauthorised Access

Car park barriers can prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering designated areas. Access is carefully regulated through License Plate Recognition, fobs, access cards, or interaction with on-site staff via intercom systems in Singapore. Once authorised access is confirmed, the barrier is lifted either manually or electronically to let vehicles pass through. 

2. Improving Road Safety 

By ensuring vehicles enter and exit the parking lot in an orderly manner, car park gantry barriers help reduce the risk of accidents caused by sudden or unexpected movements. As drivers are prompted to slow down, they will have more time to react to unforeseen obstacles, such as a pedestrian suddenly appearing or another vehicle reversing. This contributes to a safer environment for everyone using the parking facility. 

3. Effective Traffic Management

Businesses may opt to install these barriers not only for security and safety reasons but also for effective traffic management. They can optimise space utilisation by allowing only a certain number of vehicles to enter the parking area, preventing overcrowding and reserving parking spaces exclusively for employees, customers, or season parking holders. 

Enhancing Communication and Security with Intercom Systems 

In Singapore, an intercom system facilitates two-way electronic communication between individuals, allowing occupants of a building to remotely grant access to visitors by unlocking a door or gate. This section will walk you through the deployment of an intercom system and the various types available.

Steps to Use an Intercom System

These systems are composed of base stations and substations. The former is typically installed at the property’s main entryway, serving as the central hub of an intercom system. Connected to the base station are one or more substations, which are strategically positioned at different spots within the building, such as inside apartments or offices. 

Learn more: When Should You Upgrade Your Building Intercom System?

image of a man installing an intercom system

Step 1: Initiate Communication

Press the button on the base station, or a ‘master station’ to call the desired substation or vice versa.

Step 2: Speak and Listen

Engage in a conversation through the intercom’s speaker and microphone.

Step 3: Grant Access

If access can be granted, press the designated button to remotely unlock the door or gate.

Common Types of Intercom Systems

common types of intercom systems

1. Wireless Intercoms

Wireless intercoms are ideal when running wiring throughout a property is not practical or too costly limited range, these intercoms are perfect for various applications, including driveway gates. With a simple press of a key on the telephone keypad, users can unlock doors or activate gate openers effortlessly.

2. Wired Intercoms

All intercom systems require some wiring, varying in complexity based on the system’s scope. More complex systems necessitate wiring from each substation to the base station at the property’s entryway. For cost-effective building intercom systems, wiring is limited to the installation site, powering the connection to electronic or magnetic door locks. 

image of a Kocom wire intercom system

3. Audio Intercoms

Commonly known as apartment buzzers, audio intercoms allow visitors to communicate with tenants inside the building. If the system includes a door release device, tenants can grant access to visitors. Mainly found in older buildings, audio intercoms have mostly been replaced by video intercom systems.

4. Video Intercoms

Video intercoms transmit both audio and video, necessitating a camera to capture the video and a screen to display it. Ideally, the video intercom includes a built-in camera, although an external camera can also be utilised. Separate hardware should be installed at various locations throughout the building for video displays.

5. Outdoor Intercoms

Outdoor intercoms are an essential component of security systems, allowing visitors to contact residents and request access. Their weatherproof hardware, installed outdoors, is ideal for gated properties requiring reliable communication solutions.

The durability of an outdoor intercom is determined by its IP (ingress protection) rating. The best systems have an IP65 rating, indicating they are dust-tight and protected against water jets.

Comprehensive Protection: Security Systems Integration 

Security system integration involves combining various security devices—such as surveillance cameras, threat detection sensors, and access control mechanisms—into a single, unified, and interconnected system. Before jumping straight into integration, here are some considerations to factor in:

  • Ensuring the compatibility of different systems
  • Designing a scalable system to accommodate future expansion or technological upgrades.
  • Balancing the costs of integration with the available budget to achieve optimal protection without overspending.

Steps to Security System Integration

1. Evaluation

The first step involves identifying security needs and gaps by evaluating the types and placements of existing security devices across the premises, such as CCTV systems, access control mechanisms, and security alarms. Simultaneously, security professionals analyse historical incident data to pinpoint vulnerabilities and areas needing improvement. Recommendations are then made based on identified gaps, which may include adding security measures, adjusting system configurations, or integrating new technologies to enhance overall security effectiveness.

2. Planning

Once the assessment is completed, a comprehensive plan should be crafted to detail the integration process, including compatibility checks and scalability considerations. This is to guarantee the integrated system can accommodate additional devices, expansions, or upgrades in the future without significant disruptions or costly overhauls. For greater resilience, it is also vital to include protocols for data sharing, network configurations, and system redundancies.

3. Implementation

The next step is to implement the integration plan in phases or stages to minimise disruption to current operations. It’s crucial to collaborate closely with stakeholders such as IT departments, security personnel, and facility managers to ensure the seamless deployment and acceptance of the integrated system.

4. System Testing

Thoroughly test the integrated system after implementation to verify functionality, interoperability, and performance under various scenarios. Users should keep an eye on the reliability, response times, data accuracy, and security protocols to prevent issues from arising.

image of a security guard checking CCTV systems

5. Maintenance

While integrating the system is important, it’s equally vital to schedule regular monitoring and maintenance to uphold optimum performance and security. Establish protocols for monitoring system health and promptly addressing potential vulnerabilities.

Questions You May Have

1. What is the best security system for public spaces?

The optimal security system for public spaces integrates several key components to ensure comprehensive protection and effective monitoring. Central to this system is surveillance cameras (CCTV) that provide visual oversight, deterring crime and offering crucial evidence when incidents occur. Access control systems regulate entry to restricted areas, enhancing security by limiting access to authorised personnel only. Intrusion detection systems equipped with sensors and alarms detect unauthorised access or suspicious activities, promptly alerting security personnel or authorities. Additionally, lighting and environmental design measures help reduce hiding spots and improve visibility, further improving safety. Integrated management platforms streamline monitoring and response, ensuring all security measures work in tandem to safeguard public spaces effectively.

2. How does the system handle intrusion detection?

Intrusion detection typically involves sensors like motion detectors, door/window contacts, and glass break sensors. When a potential intrusion is detected, the system triggers an alarm and notifies the homeowner or monitoring service.

3. Can the system be integrated with other smart devices?

Yes, many modern systems can integrate with smart devices like lights, thermostats, locks, and voice assistants for enhanced automation and control.

CONCLUSION

Investing in modern security systems is paramount for promoting public safety as they provide effective deterrence against threats, enable swift response to emergencies, and maintain continuous monitoring of high-risk areas. Their implementation reflects a commitment to protecting individuals and maintaining public order, ultimately contributing to a more secure and resilient society.

With over 40 years of industry experience, Astrol Security specialises in security solutions like CCTV systems, convex mirrors, and car park barriers, to establish a secure environment for all.

Contact us today for peace of mind. 

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