Very proud to be featured in School News Australia. Securing schools and students using Salto, Face recognition and CCTV cameras is at the forefront of everything we believe in.
Designing IA for AI - Information Architecture Conference 2024
Securing your school - School News, Australia - Term 4, 2019
1. 50 Term 4, 2019 | school-news.com.auHEALTH & SAFETY
By Rosie Clarke, Editor
Theft and vandalism
plagues schools
around the country.
Just last month, $16,000 of
damage was caused during a
break-in at Wahroonga Adventist
School. Meanwhile, Port Hacking
High School in New South
Wales has been dealing with the
fallout after vandals graffitied
obscenities across the school
oval during the holidays. Geelong
police even took measures
to warn schools that they are
more susceptible to break-ins
during the holidays as vandals
look to steal computers
and other devices.
Preventing a break-
in comes down to
security procedure and
protocol. Particularly
as schools invest in
digital technologies,
outdoor learning aids
and furniture designs,
security needs should be
reassessed regularly.
The first step is risk
assessment: some state
departments and many
security suppliers can provide
a security assessment that
is tailored to your school. If
your school meets certain
risk requirements, it will
qualify for more government
funding to install intruder alert
systems and more. Alternatively,
if your school has suffered
property damage in the past,
the government may pay for a
formal security audit. For schools
that don’t meet the criteria for
additional funding, you can
undertake your own audit by
following the risk management
tools provided online by your
state department or use a
licensed security consultant.
Once risk areas have been
identified, there are a multitude
of ways to strengthen security:
clearly signposting alarm
systems, CCTV and security
patrols is a great way to help
deter vandals and thieves.
Experts suggest placing
your signs behind a see-
through fence, or somewhere
clearly visible but difficult
to deface or hide behind.
Security lighting is also
important as it will prevent blind
spots or dark shadows in CCTV
footage and strong visibility
will act as a deterrent if
would-be vandals know
they could easily be seen.
Security lighting and
infra-red lights have
the added benefit
of surprising
trespassers,
discouraging them
from entering.
The sudden bright lights
may also trigger neighbours
to keep an eye out or call
police. Professionals should
be brought in to install the
lights in places that will be
most impactful and most
difficult to deface or disarm.
One of the most effective
ways to secure a school is to
establish a strong perimeter.
With a solid boundary fence,
onlookers will note that the
school is secure and students,
parents and teachers can feel
safe during term time. Fencing is
popular, as trees or landscaping
can be scaled and walls feel too
imposing. There are a variety of
available fence materials and
even anti-climb designs
ideal for preventing
school break-ins.
Customisable high
security fencing
designs are also
available to schools
concerned about
appearance.
Securingyourschool
perimeter against vandals