As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business is kept safe and secure by following all of the required laws and regulations regarding fire safety. 

Now, we understand that this is not an easy thing to do. With so much legal stuff to keep on top of, ensuring everything you do is 'by the book' can be a struggle, especially when it comes to health and safety and the various laws that come with it.

One of the most important areas in health and safety that can't be overlooked, however, is fire safety. Negligence here can lead to some very serious problems such as property damage and even death. So, it's extremely important that as a business owner, you ensure that your commercial fire alarms and fire safety measures are up to scratch.

To make things a little easier for you, IDS Security Systems is here to guide you through the requirements of your business fire alarm!

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Have you been thinking about investing in an access control system for your home? There are lots of reasons why a home access control system could be right for you! Adding an access control system to your home is an excellent way to improve security and monitor people's visits. Nowadays, you never can be too careful when it comes to home security, so if you want to learn more about the benefits of home door entry systems - just keep reading.

Better protection

When you have a lot of valuable possessions in your home, installing a home access control system can really give you peace of mind. Standard home doors are easily compromised, meaning you constantly feel on edge when you know the property is vacant. Installing a state-of-the-art home access control system will provide you with an extra layer of protection and put your mind at rest.

Access multiple doors

For those of you with larger homes or numerous different entry points, you might find it a nuisance to carry a huge set of keys around! There's one for the front door, a different one for the back door, another to get into the porch... eventually you start to feel like a school janitor with millions of keys and no idea which one works in which door! 

If you're fed up with carrying a huge bunch of keys around with you, you could streamline the whole system by installing a convenient home door entry system. Whether you choose a key fob, a key card or a more advanced biometric system, you can have complete access to every door in the house with a single fob, card or fingerprint.

Better still, these technologically advanced home access control systems are very difficult to replicate, making it unlikely that someone could access your home - even if your fob or card got lost. This is just another way that access control systems for homes can be beneficial.

Speak to visitors without opening the door

Whether you're running a business from your living room, or you've got overly-enthusiastic neighbours, an intercom can be a valuable home access control system. Rather than standing up and rushing downstairs every time the doorbell rings, you'll be able to see and speak to your visitors with the click of a button. You can even grant them access to your home without fumbling for your keys. This is great if you're constantly having parcels delivered, or clients visiting your home on a regular basis.

Speaking to visitors remotely through a home door entry system is also hugely beneficial for the elderly, who may struggle to answer the door quickly. Better yet, they'll be able to see exactly who's on the doorstep without opening the door, this is especially beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic but will also help prevent vulnerable people from falling victim to door-step scammers in the future.

Integration with other home security systems

Here at IDS Security Systems, we believe that your security system should fit your requirements exactly. If you're interested in our access control systems for homes, why not take a look at some of our other home security systems to provide you with additional layers of security.

There are very few criminals who will successfully break into your home if you've got an effective home door entry system alongside an intruder alarm and CCTV cameras. That's why we believe in being completely flexible when it comes to fitting a home security system that works for you. 

Other home security services we provide include, fire alarm installation and round-the-clock call out and monitoring contract. Working together to establish your requirements, we'll be able to make your home safe and secure so you can rest easy!

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For more information on our home access control systems, or to book an appointment with our technicians, give us a call on 029 20 753 251 now!

If you own a storage unit that contains either highly-valuable or sentimental goods, you'll want to make sure that it is always kept under the tightest security measures to ensure your belongings are as safe as possible at all times.

At the most basic level, you can expect your storage unit to have a strong lock and maybe a nearby security camera but if that's not enough, there are further measures that you can implement.

This blog is here to provide you with additional security systems for storage units that increase the level of security for your goods!

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For the past year, the UK has been subject to a range of lockdown restrictions that have drastically changed our normal lives. The usual routines of heading out to work, popping to the pub on a Friday, and meeting friends for coffees have been taken away from us in order to keep the country safe. 

When thinking about the impact that the "stay at home" orders have had on crime rates, you'd probably expect to see them go down dramatically. After all, a large number of crimes including drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting require criminals to go outside. 

That being said, it might be naive of us to think that criminals who already break the law on a daily basis are sticking to the lockdown restrictions religiously, even if it means putting their lives and the lives of others on the line. 

So, let's dig a little bit deeper into some crime statistics that were collected during lockdown to find out whether crime rates have, in fact, gone up or down. 

Data collected by The Office for National Statistics

During the months of April and May 2020, the UK was put under strict national lockdown restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. The Office for National Statistics conducted a Telephone-Operated Crime Survey to find out how trends in crime were changing during this period. 

They were then able to compare the crime rates during this two-month period to a pre-lockdown two-month average to establish whether or not crime rates had gone up or down.

What did they find out?

The Office for National Statistics reported that during the period between April and May 2020, crimes (no including computer misuse or fraud) fell by 32%. During this time, there was also a shift in the public's perception of police officers, with 91% of all adults in the survey reporting that they were satisfied with the way the police in their area were responding to the ongoing situation.

Which crime rates fell the most and why?

There are a few crimes in particular that happened far less frequently due to lockdown restrictions. One of these was theft. In fact, theft offences fell to almost half the level recorded in April and May 2019.

Of these theft offences, domestic burglary saw a significant drop. With people at home more frequently and for longer periods of time, the opportunity for domestic burglaries in vacant properties was dramatically reduced. 

Shoplifting offences were also less frequent. A lot of shops that would usually be open to the public were closed, therefore removing the opportunity for theft in public spaces.

Were there any exceptions to this trend?

Yes, sadly the coronavirus pandemic didn't stop certain criminals from carrying on with their daily business. Drug offences actually rose by 22% in April and 44% in Mary 2020 compared to the same months in the previous year. 

This doesn't necessarily mean that the number of drug offenders doubled during this time. With police attention away from crimes like shoplifting and domestic burglary, and with fewer people out on the streets, it was easier to identify potential criminal activity and prosecute accordingly. 

Home and Business Security

While these statistics indicate that certain crime rates have gone down, that doesn't mean that now is a time to neglect your security measures. 

Business owners, who may have empty premises for the next few months (or longer) should really consider improving their business security to protect any assets inside. While shoplifting is certainly easier when a shop is open and operational, burglars are guaranteed to attempt a robbery at an unoccupied business if they can see there are no security measures in place.

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Homeowners who have been spending more time than even in their properties might have become a little bit relaxed with their security systems. After all, we know that burglars are unlikely to attempt a break-in if they know you're at home. 

That being said, many of us will be returning to work, visiting friends, and (hopefully) heading off on holidays later in 2021, so now is a great time to get your home equipped with a reliable home security system. 

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Our engineers are still working despite the COVID-19 lockdown and we've got measures in place to keep you safe. Get in touch to arrange a free quotation today!

Read More: Keeping You Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for businesses across all sectors, but we knew it was vital to keep providing reliable security services for businesses and homeowners throughout this troubling time.

During the first lockdown, we provided an emergency callout service while we got our safety procedures in place. Thankfully, we were able to return to a fully-operational service within the first month! We've been able to remain open throughout the pandemic, but in order to do this, we've had to make some significant changes to the way we work. 

Pre-booked appointments

One of our main goals throughout the pandemic has been to minimise disruption for our clients and keep our services running "as normally" as possible. We've found it really beneficial to speak to our clients over the phone or via email to pre-book their appointments. 

Arranging appointments ahead of time provides peace-of-mind for our clients, ensures they're prepared for our visit, and allows us to make sure everything is safe for our engineers before they arrive on-site.

Social distancing & hygiene

Social distancing has become a part of everyday life now, and we're sticking to the guidelines too. All of our technicians are keeping a safe distance while they work & avoiding face-to-face contact where possible.

On top of this, we've introduced some new protocols to make sure people entering the IDS offices are adhering to the guidelines too. We've got designated car parking spaces & we've provided handwashing stations near our doors so people can sanitise their hands before entering and exiting the building.

Our engineers are issued with...

We knew, from the very beginning of the pandemic, that our engineers would need to be prepared before entering your homes to keep you (our clients) and them (our staff) safe. Before attending an appointment, our engineers are issued with:

An information pack containing:

• IDS COVID 19 Risk Assessment
• Working Safely from a vehicle
• Working Safely in other people’s homes
• IDS Hazardous Substances Safety Information Sheet – Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
• Coronavirus COVID 19 follow the rules info sheet
• NHS Wales Cough and Sneeze info sheet
• How to put on a mask
• IDS Question card

A hygiene pack containing:

• Face Shield
• Half face P3 Mask & Filters
• KN 95 Masks
• Surgical Masks
• Nitrile Gloves x 100
• Disinfectant wipes x 200
• Keep your distance – 2m sticker
• Hand Sanitiser – liquid 250ml
• Hand Sanitiser – Gel 500ml
• Liquid Soap
• COVID 19 Procedure Reminder Card

Hopefully, this gives you an overview of the different protocols we have in place to continue working safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that security systems are (in some cases) more important than ever before. With a lot of offices and businesses closing their doors for the time being, there are a lot of vulnerable, empty properties that need an additional layer of security.

If you're looking to improve the security systems in your premises, don't hesitate to get in touch. Take a look at our home and business security systems by clicking the appropriate buttons below:

Home Security >                          Business Security >

Read More:

• Fire Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Make Your Workplace COVID-Secure