One of the most important recent innovations in the wearable camera market has been the ability to integrate the body worn cameras with existing video management systems (VMS). Such integrations enable organisations to unify a site’s security and monitoring system, creating mobile and first-person viewpoints to add contextual detail to footage.
Edesix’s camera streaming gateway software, ONStream, integrates Edesix’s VideoManager with existing Video Management Systems (VMS) for fixed IP camera networks. This new software enables ONVIF compliant VMSs to be compatible with Edesix’s cameras, streamlining the management of footage for users. Wearable cameras integrate seamlessly with VideoManager and leading CCTV Video Management Systems, meaning captured footage can be instantly shared and viewed by security staff in one integrated picture.
Wearable security cameras connected to a VMS are powerful tools for monitoring and securing many different environments, from retail floors to distribution centres. Worn on the uniform, staff need only press a button on the lightweight camera to activate recording, which in turn can send a live feed of the situation back to a centrally based control room, where the footage can be viewed by security staff, and action taken. These cameras also have the ability to send an alert SMS message once activated, sharing the live footage stream with designated personnel via their mobile telephone.
This latest innovation means Body Worn Cameras are capable of streaming live video and audio feeds from multiple perspectives and viewpoints to a control room, whilst simultaneously recording footage in HD quality locally to the device for the creation of complete evidence packages.
Introducing the new VideoTag - where the incident recorder meets the Body Worn Camera
Another recent innovation is Edesix’s VideoTag Series, the VT-100 and VT-50 incident recorders. These are Edesix’s smallest, lightest and most discreet cameras to date and are proven to deter aggression, protect staff and provide secure evidential-quality footage on demand.
Designed for less frequent use than Edesix’s VideoBadge Body Worn Cameras, both the VideoTag VT-100 and VT-50 are lightweight, unobtrusive, cost-effective and easy to use. Both require no extra training, stream live footage, and have a standby battery-life of up to six months, meaning users don’t need to worry about charging the device often. The VT Series also provides complementary audio and video capture of incidents when utilised as part of a larger Body Worn Camera and CCTV security function.
The VT-50 has been designed for indoor use primarily, and is aimed at areas such as airlines, indoor retail or education. The VT-100 is recording device specifically designed to meet the needs of retailers, lone workers and other public facing businesses. It is similar to the VT-50 incident recorder, which was launched at IFSEC 2017, but with the benefits of greater durability and a longer battery life.
The beauty of this product is that it bridges the gap between the smaller incident recorder and the more powerful Body Worn Camera (BWC). The VT series will allow staff in public-facing roles, who are not always part of the security team, to create a safer working environment for themselves and their colleagues. It offers a cost-effective, secure and practical approach to wearable security for incident recording and workflow management.
Body Worn Cameras enhance safety of staff and general public
BWCs have been proven to help improve the safety of those in public facing roles, whilst producing compelling legal evidence when needed. BWC’s can provide two-fold protection to staff – firstly, members of the public naturally change and moderate their behaviour for the better when they realise they are being, or may be, recorded – but importantly those cameras can then be used, when needed, to alert colleagues to an incident, to obtain evidential quality footage to secure convictions, or to uphold the account of staff in the event of a complaint or incident.
Studies examining the use of BWCs show they make a real difference in protecting frontline staff and the public. Not only do they deter aggression and in many cases eliminate the need to activate a panic alarm or radio during an incident, but they also help staff feel valued, safe and more protected.
In order to deliver the benefits, a BWC system must be simple to deploy, simple to manage and simple to use; the wearable camera is a tool for the user to protect themselves – but it isn’t the focus of their job, nor should it be. It is essential they are easy to use and easy to deploy with minimal training. In addition, the back-office management suite must be secure and able to deliver court-admissible evidence packages.
Retail staff, security teams, prison officers and Environment Agency enforcement officers are just some of the users of BWCs who have stated that wearing a BWC makes them feel safer at work. When recording is activated it is made clearly visible to any potential aggressors, reminding them that their actions from this point can be made into video evidence. False complaints are also greatly reduced for organisations using BWCs. A study by the University of Cambridge found that police complaints fell by 93% following roll-outs of BWCs to frontline officers in the US and UK.
Edesix currently supplies markets across the globe, through direct sales and international partners, to geographies including the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, the Middle East and Australasia.
For further information about Edesix please visit www.edesix.com.
