2011 Oscars at University of Birmingham

2020 Vision are again delighted to provide their support for the annual Birmingham University OSCARS.

Each year the University of Birmingham, Hospitality and Accommodation Service (HAS) recognises and rewards staff achievement and customer service at their annual OSCAR Awards. This years event the sixth, took place at Fusion on the Vale on Friday the 8th July.

The purpose of the OSCARS is to distinguish the individual or collective efforts of staff that go the extra mile to ensure customers needs and expectations are not only met, but often exceeded. These are the individuals and teams that ensure that HAS lives up to its vision of providing excellent services for the University community.

2020 Vision MD Peter Houlis who attended the event on behalf of the company said “good company, fine wine and delicious food made the evening a great success. We are delighted to be able to support our valued clients in acknowledging the contribution their people make to the success of such a prestigious University”.

For more information about the Oscars visit http://www.has.bham.ac.uk/HASOSCARS.shtml

UK Threat level re-assessed in July to Substantial

The UK Government has reassessed the current terrorism threat level in England Scotland and Wales from Severe to Substantial. In Northern Ireland it remains at Severe.

There are five levels of threat:

• critical - an attack is expected imminently
• severe - an attack is highly likely
• substantial - an attack is a strong possibility
• moderate - an attack is possible but not likely
• low - an attack is unlikely

The threat levels are set by Security Service (MI5) and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). Who work together to consider information gathered through intelligence in the UK and abroad and how terrorist organizations have behaved in the past.

The system of threat levels has been created to keep you informed about the level of threat the UK faces from terrorism at any given time. The system helps police and other law enforcement agencies decide how to allocate staff.

Experts predict it’s just a matter of time before the next attack. Whatever your walk of life security is probably more important today than at any point in history and we all need to take responsibility for our safety and security.

Given the substantial risk now would be a good time to review your security and make sure its working.

In order to implement a successful security strategy, it is imperative that an audit is carried out and a security management plan be developed. The plan needs to list the risks and actual and perceived threats, along with an operational requirement.

Your audit should be carried out by a security professional with a working knowledge of your industry sector

Remember to contact your local police force and speak to the ‘Counter Terrorism Security Advisor.’

Good physical security will be your first line of defence backed up by electronic security.

The security measures should be multilayered like an onionskin, and backed up by sound management policies and procedures, including staff training.

Fortunately, today’s security professionals can draw from a substantial arsenal of security options with technology, providing many cost efficient ways to improve security for everyone.

Take the no risk option and let 2020Vision review your security issues now. We have the knowledge and experience to solve your problems simply, contact us on 0191 2962662 or visit us at www.2020cctv.com

For further information visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/counter-terrorism or http://www.nactso.gov.uk/documents

CCTV specialists use ground-breaking equipment to uncover never before private life of puffins on Coquet Island

A nationally renowned closed circuit security specialist has captured footage of a puffin feeding her young after developing a unique underground camera system.

Excitingly, this is the first time a puffin from the RSPB’s Coquet Island nature reserve, and within the region, has been caught on camera feeding.

2020 Vision, a North Shields-based CCTV systems integrator, which usually specialises in large scale, high security projects, has designed and installed a tiny camera below ground into a puffin’s nest on Coquet Island, just off the coast of Amble in Northumberland.

Video footage from the camera is being transferred via a wireless network to the Northumberland Seabird Centre, in Amble, where RSPB volunteers are on hand to help visitors discover even more about Coquet’s amazing wildlife. The footage is being watched by visitors, including bird lovers and schoolchildren.

The camera, just 30mm in diameter and 100mm in length, has been delicately placed into the puffin burrow in order to capture extraordinary footage of the puffins during the breeding season. The intimate recording of the puffin family’s behaviour underground is an exciting development for bird research.

“This is something we have never attempted before,” commented Michael Lynch of 2020 Vision. “We specialise in vast industrial projects for establishments such as prisons and universities. To create a camera so minute and specialised is a very new and exciting challenge for us. The icing on the cake is to unearth unique information about this amazing bird.”

RSPB staff are delighted they have been given this opportunity to monitor the wildlife in such detail, as well as ensuring maximum protection from egg thieves. The detailed footage is also fascinating tourists who visit Amble to witness the incredible arrival and nesting of up to 40,000 seabirds.

Michael continued: “We’re really pleased many thousands of people will now be able to view the habitats and behaviour of the great wildlife we have here in the North East through this special camera.”

Coquet Island is an RSPB reserve about one mile off the coast of Northumberland. The island is completely uninhabited, apart from wardens who protect the birds during the spring and summer months. Britain’s rarest seabird, the roseate tern, nests on Coquet Island. These rare and special birds need peace and quiet to successfully raise their young and for this reason, the public are prohibited from landing on the island.

Paul Morrison, one of the wardens on Coquet Island, commented: “2020 Vision have gone the extra mile to design a system that doesn’t disturb the birds but is capable of clearly filming in dark, enclosed spaces underground.”

Michael concluded: “To have live footage showing how the puffins interact is groundbreaking. Hopefully, the cameras will continue to reveal even more details of the secret lives of these birds.”