Page 13 - the SyI Quarterly

Our Membership

Establishing the complementary

role of CCTV Monitoring

Sian Doherty MSyI - Managing Director, Arc Monitoring

Over the past 12 years, just as I have progressed in my role so has the technology…. Alarm Receiving
Finding my feet within the Security Industry and establishing the Centres now have super-fast, fibre to the premises internet. They have dedicated alarm receiving software
complementary role of CCTV Monitoring which can handle incoming alarms from thousands of different Network Video Recorders and Video
Management Systems. Detection technology is now very precise, as well as physical detectors, video
The world was quite a different place in the summer of 2010 than today. analytics and artificial intelligence can be used to pinpoint specific activities on sites. The possibilities are
The UK was coming out of a recession and I was about to embark on my vast.
first full time role after 3 years of study at University in Bristol. I was lucky
enough to be awarded a scholarship to read Early Childhood studies and At the start of my journey within security, I have sometimes felt that our work, providing remote monitoring
had my sights set on a career in education. I am a realist, I knew I couldn’t services, wasn’t really security in the strictest sense. Yes, we held BS 5979 and BS 8418, had audits every
offer much to the future generation having not lived a life out of education year from the National Security Inspectorate and held licences from the Security Industry Authority but we
myself. I set about looking for a role that would be suitable for another weren’t on the front line, we were in the background. There appeared to be a big disconnect between the
year in the vibrant city of Bristol before I started my teacher training. services offered by our colleagues as security officers and those in law enforcement.

When I applied for Arc Monitoring, an Alarm Receiving Centre in the north Monitoring stations are technology focused, during the first few years of my career, I completed courses in
of Bristol, I wasn’t sure what they did, I didn’t even know where their office was… neither did my taxi driver on basic IT and networking to aid my role at Arc, helping engineers overcome IT issues to get complex CCTV
the day of the interview. Back then google maps wasn’t a thing! I was interested in the role as it was 4 days systems online. It felt like the future of monitoring was coming but it was still a bit of a dark art. Around
on, 4 days off. During the interview I was taken on a tour of the office and shown the control room. A steel 2017/2018 I began researching security services further. Arc were getting more enquiries which challenged
lined room, no windows and each desk had 9 monitors. It looked like something from a film! our typical service offer. We were being asked to collaborate with security officers, to link with access
control, to provide Virtual Private networks to host secure connections and ultimately offer a more joined
When I was offered the role and arrived at Arc, I was inducted into the world of Remote Video Response by up security service.
the trainer. I learnt how the CCTV system had detector’s linked to the cameras, so that when the bugler ran
in front of the camera, swag bag in-hand, images where presented in our control room. My role was then to It was around this time that I received instructions from The Security Service to provide the highest level
issue an audio warning back to the site and watch the bugler scamper off empty handed and inform a ‘key of service to critical national infrastructure sites across the UK. That was a real turning point for me.
holder’ of the event. It was quite exhilarating! Whilst I had seen CCTV used retrospectively to playback video, Suddenly all the dots began to link together. I set about joining the Security Institute as a student member,
I had no idea it could be used as a proactive tool to stop an event in progress. Back in 2010, it was all done completing the L5 Security Institute Diploma in Security Management along the way. Becoming a member
through dial up internet and ADSL broadband, mobile internet was still just for a select few. of the Institute, connecting with others on LinkedIn and attending more events gave me so much knowledge
about the security sector and the opportunities out there.
My first role at Arc was as a CCTV operator / administrator. Between 08:00 – 17:00, weekdays, I added sites,
answered questions, pulled off footage and tested sites with engineers. Between 17:00 – 20:00 and all day on There is sometimes an argument made that remote monitoring and technology makes the role of a front
a weekend, I handled these ‘alarms’ of footage, practicing my audio technique. My first piece of feedback was line security officer redundant. I would argue the opposite. In my role at Arc. I must always ask the question
to stop saying ‘please’ over the audio to the intruders it doesn’t give off an air of authority! “what/who are we trying to protect?” We get to see the wider picture and show how remote monitoring
may enhance the role provided by an onsite or attending Security Officer. We are able to provide detailed
This role allowed me to learn in detail how the systems worked to provide the monitoring service but it also reports of incidents, real time information, and lone worker protection
gave me a huge insight into human behaviour. We monitored and continue to monitor a large number of After 12 years I can say with confidence that I have found my feet within the Security Industry. I can see a
open sites. An open site is where a member of the public can just wonder in, like a car sales forecourt. I really bright future where joined up services can offer the very best for our clients. I am looking forward to
learnt how to spot suspicious activity of these sites and respond appropriately. the next 12 years and the advancements that will come next.

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