gsa-blog

Wireless Security System Perks

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:46 +0100

There are many reasons to install a home security system including deterring theft, monitoring the safety and security of your pets while you are away, alerting you of intruders, and simply providing you peace of mind.

If you are thinking of installing a security system, you should consider selecting a wireless home security system. There are many highly effective models on the market today and they are a lot easier and less expensive to install than a hardwired system. A wireless home security system will provide you with all the benefits of a great security system without the hassle and mess of having to drill holes and dig under your house to have it installed.

Many different companies make wireless home security systems. One of the most popular companies is GSA which offers its comprehensive Family Package. When the alarm is triggered the system sounds a siren, flashes lights, and automatically dials up to four pre-set numbers delivering a pre-recorded message. This system is easy to install yourself and provides complete security coverage of your home with motion, door, and window sensors.

Another major benefit of choosing a wireless home security system is its ease of installation over traditional hard wired models. A wireless home security system uses small radio transmitters instead of wires to send the necessary signals between the system sensors and control panel. This means there is no drilling necessary and you can take the system with you when you move.

Although you can elect to buy a wireless system yourself and perform what amounts to a fairly easy self-installation, the advantages of security system monitoring are vast. Shop carefully for a security system company you trust and that delivers quality protection and service – including a warranty.

Minimizing False Alarms

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:57:47 +0100

The cost of false alarms on the limited time and resources of financially strapped local law enforcement has led jurisdictions across the country to enact laws penalizing false alarms. Homeowners can pay, sometimes large fines for repeat false alarms that waste officers’ time.

Statistics show that 76% of false alarms are caused by user error. There are certain precautions you can take to eliminate the potential for false alarms at your property:

Make sure anyone with a key to your business or home knows how to operate your security system.
Make special arrangements for guests and repair technicians.
Have your security system company check and service your security system – including batteries – regularly.
Call your security company immediately if your system doesn’t seem to be working properly or before you do any remodeling.

If your alarm goes off….

Don’t panic! Remember your security code.
Find out if there really is an intruder or fire and respond appropriately.
If the alarm activation was accidental, carefully disarm your security system according to your instructions.
After you’ve reset the system, wait for the monitoring station to call you.
Don’t leave your home or business until you’ve spoken with your monitoring station and assured them that there is no emergency.

Be Prepared

Rehearse alarm cancellation with everyone who might use your security system.
Make sure everyone who has a key to your house or business knows how to operate the security system.
Give all system users the name and number of your monitoring station and security I.D. in case the alarm sounds.
Keep your security system instruction book handy, but not in an obvious place where an intruder can find it.
Call your monitoring station if you change your phone number, get a pet, plan to sell or remodel your house or test your security system.

Ghana Police Service

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:03:50 +0100

BRIEF HISTORY The attainment of Republican status in 1960, saw the changing of the name Ghana Police Force into Ghana Police Service. With the enactment of the Police Force (amendment) Decree, in 1974 (NRCD.303) the Ghana Police Service was removed from the control of the Public Service Commission and restored to the status of a selfaccounting organisation, resulting in the creation of districts, divisions and units to enable it cope with the ever increasing demand of the public. Before then, history indicates that the Police Force started with a handful of troops kept by a committee of merchants to guard their areas of operations (Forts and Castles) even before the Gold Coast was colonised. In 1844, the British took over those troops and named it the “Gold Coast Militia and Police”. The troops mainly performed guard duties at the Forts/Castles. Some were also attached to the Courts for investigations and service of summonses When the British Government assumed full sovereignty over the Gold Coast in 1871, the Force had only ninety (90) men. This was reinforced with four hundred (400) Hausa tribesmen from Northern Nigeria and other tribesmen from Sierra Leone. In 1876, the Force was named the “Gold Coast Constabulary”. With the attainment of self rule, the first President of Ghana appointed Mr. E.R.T. Madjitey, Commissioner of Police, as the first Ghanaian head of the Police Force. Since then there have been fifteen (1 Inspector-Generals of Police who have seen the successful administration of the Service. National Headquarters The Inspector-General of Police is assisted the day-to-day administration and operation c the service by two (2) Deputy Inspector Generals of Police i.e. Deputy IGP/Administration and Deputy IGP in charge of operations. All Police functions, organisation, personn management and welfare have been divid into ten(10) SCHEDULES with each schedul under the Command of a Commissioner Police. The schedules are; SERVICES WELFARE SDM (Strategic Direction and Monitoring) TECHNICAL LEGAL AND SPECIAL DUTIES CID FINANCE OPERATIONS (OPS) HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMEN (HRD) POLICE INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU (PIPS) CHIEF STAFF OFFICER (Regional) ADMINISTRATION OF THE SERVICE The structure of the Police Service has expanded over the years with the creation of new units to address the increasing demands of governance and public safety. The day-to-day administration of the Police Service is under the unified command and authority of the Inspector-General of Police [IGP] who is based at the Police Headquarters inAccra, the nation’s capital. The IGP is assisted by two deputy IGP’s one is responsible for Administration and the other responsible for Operations. Also assisting the IGP at the Police Headquarters is the Headquarters Management Advisory Board: (HEMAB). They are responsible for the following schedules; SERVICES WELFARE SDM (Strategic Direction and Monitoring) TECHNICAL LEGALAND SPECIAL DUTIES FINANCE OPERATIONS (OPS) HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (HRD) CHIEFSTAFFOFFICER POLICE INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU (PIPS) The Ghana Police Service is divided into twelve administrative regions namely: Accra, Tema, Ashanti, BrongAhafo, Eastern, Volta, Western, Central, Northern, Railways, Ports and Harbour, Upper East and Upper West Regions. Below the regions, there are; 51 Police Divisions, Commanded by Divisional Commanders, 179 Police Districts Commanded by District Commanders, and 651 Police Stations and posts supervised by station officers. The service has manpower strength of a little over seventeen thousand 17,000 personnel with a male to female ratio of about 7:3 and police civilian ratio of about 1:1200. NEW POLICING STRATEGY With manpower strength of about 17,000, the Ghana Police Service has undergone major transformation over the years. The focus is now on forming strategic partnership with the public in the fight against crime. Community Policing is now being encouraged to involve local communities in identifying potential crime problems and together with the police map out strategies to check them. The service is also paying special attention to the needs of women and children and other victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit [DOVVSU] has offices throughout the regions to handle such cases. RELATIONSHIP WITH INTERPOL The Ghana Police Service joined Interpol in 1958. Ghana was the first African Country to host the Interpol General Assembly in 1976. Ghana is also an active member of the West African Police Chiefs’ Committee [WAPCCO] The Ghana Police Service has been actively cooperating with police services within and outside the sub-region in the fight against transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, internet fraud, stolen vehicles, trafficking in small arms and light weapons and money laundering. Ghana hosted the 18th Interpol. African Regional Conference and thefl 7th meeting of Heads of African National Drugs service from 11th-i 5th July, 2005 inAccra. The Ghana Office of Interpol has beep connected to the state of the art global communication system called 1/24/7 - Interpol 24 hours a day seven days a week. Tel No: 0302-777606.

Choosing a Private Investigator

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:53:10 +0100

When you are looking to hire a private investigator services, there are several factors which you may want to look into before signing a contract.

- Confidentiality: It goes without saying that your privacy should be the top concern if you are a paying client. From the initial consultation to the investigative work, it is important to do research beforehand to ensure your private investigator will keep all aspects of the case confidential.

- Competitive Rates: You will want to look around to compare and contrast the rates of several agencies. Keep in mind that the lowest price does not necessarily mean the best service - this is a field where you do get what you pay for. If you choose a lower tier agency, there is a good possibility that they will not give you an accurate quote and continue to bill for several hours of work without results. Even worse, they may get caught while providing their services, something that you do not want.

- Qualifications: What is the background of the person/company you hire? If you want top quality work, ensure that the investigators you hire are licensed. Many PI's do their work part-time, and are not properly qualified. This could result in mediocre results for a steep price. If you are looking for superior services, you will need an investigator that has superior qualifications.

- Special Services: Some detective agencies consider themselves a do-it-all outfit, while others focus on specific cases. While the former may be useful, it's generally a better idea to hire someone who specializes in a certain type of investigative work. These types of cases may include, but are not limited to, infidelity and cheating spouses, child custody, background checks, intellectual property theft and surveillance.

- Responsiveness: Not only do you want top notch results, but if you are paying a premium you will also want top quality service. The investigator you choose should respond quickly to e-mails and phone calls, work with the clients individual needs, and provide the best possible service instead of focusing on how much money they will get from the client. A great private investigator knows that the reputation of their company is build on client satisfaction. Client testimonials are a good means for determining the quality of service provided by the investigator agency.

- Location: While you may want to choose a detective that is across the country based on their reputation, you will surely pay an exorbitant amount due to the travel time required. Your best bet is to do the research beforehand to find a quality private investigator that is within a 120 mile radius of your location.

Private Investigator Services

Investigative Agency Specialties

- Spouse Infidelity: Are you worried that your spouse is lying to you? Has your husband or wife become distant and guarded? If you have suspicions that your significant other is cheating on you behind your back, it may be necessary to hire an investigator to give you the evidence that you need to bring you the truth. Often a client's gut feeling is what prompts them to acquire the services of a private investigator, as they are unable to obtain the proof themselves. It's important to try and keep level emotions during the process of investigation, because any tips that you are suspicious may make the investigation more difficult and increase the price of the services.

- Alimony and Co-habitation: Alimony investigations may help to save you thousands of cedis, due to co-habitation with a new significant other. Alimony payments must be made after divorce, but if it can be proved that the circumstances have changed due to co-habitation, alimony payments may be greatly lessened. Co-habitation cases may need extensive work for proof, but when factoring in the potential long-term savings, it is an investment that is well worth looking into.

- Child Custody: The court appointed primary custodian is not always the best suited parent for child custody. Whether they are participating in illegal activities, dating a person with a criminal record, dropping off their kids to a babysitter to go out, or showing a general disregard to the care of the child, a private investigator can help provide the evidence you need to prove your case in court. Because these types of investigations require proof of a series wrong-doings or misbehavior, they may be more in depth or involved then other cases.

- Fraudulent Insurance Claims: If you think that a worker or employee is reporting a fake injury to collect compensation, you may want to commence an investigation for proof.

Using of Security Guards

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:44:41 +0100

Courtesy Officer (watchman) Vs. Security Guard
Is there a difference between a uniformed security guard and a courtesy officer on an apartment property? The name obviously...but their function is often identical. It seems that some apartment managers believe that calling a uniformed security guard a ‘courtesy officer” somehow reduces their exposure to civil liability. This belief can’t be farther from the truth. The old saying applies here, if it looks like a duck, quacks like at duck, and walks like a duck.. .it’s probably a duck. Call them what you will, but know that it’s the security guard uniform and conduct that will define their true job function.

In practical terms, the primary difference between the two is that the contract security guard is employed by the contractor and not by you. The in-house courtesy officer is an employee of the property management company and usually lives on the premises. The courtesy officer may not be in traditional uniform and may only wear a logo shirt. There are advantages and disadvantages of both types. The biggest advantage of a courtesy officer over the contract worker is the ability to have them live on-site and get to know the property and residents better Most carry a pager and can respond quickly. Many courtesy officers offer superior service and become very loyal to the property they protect.

Many courtesy officers are off-duty police officers, and with them come superior training and experience. However, don’t assume that off-duty police officers know how to provide adequate security to an apartment property. Apartment security isn’t taught at the police academy. Also, remember that off-duty police officers may be tired and may not want to wear another uniform or do a lot of toot patrol. However, many courtesy officers are mere civilians and can have the disadvantage of a lack of professional security or police training. Obviously, the training problem can be overcome with a little effort.

Background Checks
Another issue is one of background screening. Most uniformed contract security officers should have been screened at some level. Off-duty police officers, presumably, should have already been screened before being hired by their municipality. At minimum, job references and a basic criminal background should be checked on contract officers and non-police courtesy officers. You must inquire about this and require it of the guard company, in writing, as part of your contract to afford yourself greater liability protection.

If courtesy officers live on site, they should be qualified like any other resident including having verifiable job references and no felony criminal convictions. Yes, ex-felons need jobs too, but not working a security job at a residential property.. too much liability. Most good applicants will have solid identifiable references, most bad applicants will not.Don’t hire bad security applicants. The bottom line is: if you going to issue unit keys or master keys to a security guard or courtesy officer you better feel comfortable with them.

How to accurately check job references and criminal backgrounds is a constant source of complaint from property managers. It’s not difficult, but access varies depending on where you live. The solution is to try, and to make a good faith effort. There are dozens of background screening services available and private investigators that perform this service at a reasonable rate. Look in the telephone directory or check with your local apartment association for referrals.

Contract Security Guard Service
The question that I’m most often asked is, “How do I find a quality contract security guard service for a reasonable price that will perform the patrols responsibly?” To answer this question you must first accept certain facts as being true. Accept the fact that the words “quality and reasonable price” are often contradictory terms. Accept the fact that paying the highest or lowest price for a contract security patrol officer doesn’t always equate to the quality of service, although there are exceptions. Accept the fact that all contract security agencies are drawn from the same labor pool for potential employees. If your market area has high employment the security guard labor pool may be substandard. In fact, many poor quality security officers will drift between contract agencies until they exhaust the supply of employers. Security guards are often transient and this is the first job they find after hitting town. Because of this fact, it can become a kind of a crapshoot sometimes as the contract agency sends a different security officer to patrol your property each night.

So what’s the Solution?
As a rule of thumb, you can increase your optiori and success if you select a larger, established contract agency over a smaller one. A larger agency can usually replace no- shows or unacceptable officers, even at the last minute, because they have a larger pool of employees. Also, larger agencies tend to retain officers longer because they can offer better training and supervision, more benefits, and can provide a defined career path. This doesn’t guarantee success however, you still need to accept or reject poor quality security guards when it becomes apparent that they are not meeting the challenge.

You can drastically improve your success potential by setting up strict patrol compliance standards as part of the written contract. These are usually called “post-orders.” Post orders should be detailed and always in writing. They are given to each officer as the basis for how they are to service your property. Any breach of the post-orders could be grounds for not paying for the defective service, for replacing the officers, or for replacing the contract security agency. Long-term courtesy officers usually don’t require post-orders but more of a detailed job description.

Specific post-orders might include, for example, a set time requirement for patrol such as one-hour of foot patrol, three times per night, and between 8:00 PM and 4:00AM. You should require that the security officers patrol all areas of the property and to document their patrol pattern in detail. This can be done either with written activity logs or with the use of a watchman’s clock or similar device.

Don’t accept activity logs that merely state, “10:00 PM or 11:00 PM all quiet.” A proper activity log might state, “10:06 PM Completed patrol of the south parking lot, one light burned out over parking space #256 or “10:14 PM Checked the mail room, pool gate, laundry room, and bathroom door locks. All were secure.”

Drive-through security patrols can be a waste of money if the security officer never stops or gets out of the car. Drive-through accounts rely on high visibility and therefore must spend time on a property to be really effective. Some contract security agencies will overbook drive-through accounts and thereby create a schedule that is impossible for the patrol officer to maintain. Because of this, some properties might get skipped altogether or receive only a high-speed pass through their property.

Here are some basic rules to follow to maximize contract security guard productivity:

Always read the fine print on the contract. You may be signing an indemnity clause in favour of the contract guard agency.
Always ask for a copy of their guard company license, and evidence of insurance coverage.
Request to be named as an “additionally insured” on their policy and indemnity from their negligent acts.
Always attach the detailed post-orders and patrol instructions as a contract addendum.
Always require that detailed written activity logs be submitted following the last patrol. Read them, act upon them, and file them for at least two years. Do not accept or pay for incomplete service.
Always require, in writing, that the security guard agency properly equip their officers with a full uniform, a hand- held radio or cell phone, a notebook and pen, a flashlight, and a vehicle if necessary.
Always require, in writing, that the contract agency will provide necessary background screening, and all training that is suitable forthe site to be patrolled.
Always supply the security guards with an emergency call list and telephone access.
Always notify the residents how to the contact security guards when needed.
Communicate often with the security guard supervisors to get higher quality and service.
Do not settle or pay for poor performance or inappropriate behavior.