Optex, the manufacturer of indoor detectors, has bought external detection manufacturer Security Enclosures.
Optex, the manufacturer of indoor detectors and external detection manufacturer Security Enclosures will continue to trade separately under Peter Harries, Managing Director of Optex (Europe). Mr Harries described the acquisition as a perfect match: ?Optex specialising in indoor and short range outdoor and SEL focusing on medium and long-range outdoor detectors. Most importantly, however, this purchase takes Optex further into the CCTV market.? Mr Harries suggested that intruder alarms will become a site?s last line of defence, behind perimeter fencing and passive infra-red detectors. How the ACPO 2000 policy on alarm response works has yet to become clear, he told Professional Security. Notably, there is the requirement since October that all new remotely monitored systems are required to send confirmed activations. A confirmed signal can be CCTV or sound picked up by an alarm receiving centre (ARC), or sequential confirmation whereby a security system transmits more activations to the ARC He reported that sales of shock sensors has gone up, as installers seek to double up on contacts and shock sensors. Mr Harries argues that whereas an intruder alarm only tells you that an intruder is inside your premises, outdoor PIRs and CCTV remotely monitored can alert an operator who can pass confirmations to police for a response. Security Enclosures? three founders – directors David Symons, Peter Alson and John Grant – are remaining with the company. The Surrey firm makes the Redwall range of medium and long-range PIRs, and the Redwatch detector and camera combination, Redwide wide angle detector, MegaRed long-range, dual output detector and Rednet active infrared beams. Mr Harries added: ?Until now all manufacturing and research and development has been managed from Japan, but this acquisition gives us a UK factory and R& D facility.?
ACPO alarm response policy
Police forces have varied widely in bringing in the ACPO 2000 alarm response policy – South Wales started on January 1, 2001, whereas North Wales and Northamptonshire took until the end of 2001. Systems installed before October 1 do not need to be adapted to supply confirmed activations, unless they have been subject to police response withdrawal – and ACPO?s policy has reduced thresholds. Level of police response is reduced after two false alarms and is withdrawn altogether after a further three false calls in any 12 months.
