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.

Business Security >

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. 

Home Security >

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

Whether you're self-employed or the owner of a limited company, it's a good idea to protect your business premises with a decent security system.

A state-of-the-art business security system may comprise a number of different technologies, including alarms, CCTV cameras, door entry panels, security barriers, or any combination of these. As you can probably imagine, a system like this doesn't come cheap, so you will probably want to deduct the cost from your business's taxable profit if you can.

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No two properties are the same and, as such, no two properties have the same security requirements. One of the problems with off-the-shelf security systems is that they don't always offer maximum protection. As a property owner, you really need a bespoke security system that covers all of your security needs.

Designing your bespoke security system

Here at IDS, we've worked with businesses and homeowners throughout England and Wales and we've never installed two security systems that are the same!

Our process for designing a bespoke security system starts with a FREE Security Survey. During your survey, one of our experienced engineers will talk to you about your security system needs. Some people require a fairly simple bespoke alarm system, while others need a more complex system that includes CCTV, access control systems and even thermal screening.

If you're unsure what security systems you need in your bespoke package, our engineers will be able to talk through your concerns and assess your property to make the best recommendations for you.

Bespoke security systems for homeowners

A typical home security system might include some or all of the following:

• Fire alarms
• CCTV cameras
• Door entry systems (for flats and apartments)
• Intruder alarms

When designing your bespoke home security system, we'll look at the layout of your home and areas that might be susceptible to burglary etc. We'll make sure that your security system leaves you feeling safe and protected, even when you're not at home by setting up remote CCTV viewing on your mobile phone!

Whatever your home security needs, we've got you covered. Find out more about our home security systems by clicking the button below:

Home Security >

Bespoke security systems for business owners

For business owners, our bespoke security system services really do come in handy. Commercial properties are wildly different, and whether you're looking for better security for your shop or a place of work, we can help!

Some of our most popular commercial security systems include:

• Security barriers
• Access control systems
• CCTV
• Fire alarms
• Thermal screening
• Density control

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been inundated with requests for bespoke security systems to help ensure commercial properties are safe and protected. 

Our thermal screening and density control systems can be combined to help monitor people coming in and out of your business premises. This is particularly beneficial for busy workplaces or customer-facing businesses that are exposed to new visitors on a regular basis.

Read More: How to Make Your Business Safe for Christmas Shoppers 2020

While installing these new systems, our engineers can also incorporate a range of new and improved security systems into your business such as new key fobs or improved CCTV.  If you're ready to give your business an upgrade, let us help you create a bespoke security system for your business.

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If you have any further questions about our bespoke security systems, don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!

There are so many people across the UK who are getting in the Christmas spirit early this year. 2020 has been a tumultuous year and people are ready for a bit of festive cheer. Here at IDS, we know that businesses have had a lot to cope with and various parts of the UK are still facing the challenge of lockdown restrictions.

One thing's for certain, if and when small businesses can open back up again, they're going to be taking advantage of the Christmas shoppers and hopefully making up for sales lost earlier in the year. 

Here at IDS, we want to help small businesses open up in a safe manner so that they can welcome Christmas shoppers back into their stores with open arms (socially distanced of course).

Controlling customer numbers

One of the first challenges that businesses face during the coronavirus pandemic, is making sure that the number of people inside their store is kept to a minimum.

Now, you've probably seen some smaller businesses using a "one-in, one-out" system, but as the weather gets colder, shoppers may not want to hang around in the cold and wait for their turn to enter your shop. The very thought of this is probably driving Christmas shoppers to buy online anyway, but there is something you can do to make sure your business can accommodate anyone who comes to shop in person.

How can you remedy this? Well, to start with, we'd recommend reading our blog - How Many People Can I Have in My Shop at a Time?

Rather than having one or two people in-store at a time, you'd be able to accommodate more Christmas shoppers with the right technology in place. 

We'd recommend taking a look at our density control cameras, designed to help you manage people coming in and out of your store automatically. That's right, you won't need someone to stand by the door and count people as they come in and out, our density control cameras will do the hard work for you. 

Density Control Cameras >

Detecting COVID-19 in shoppers

Most business owners would agree that knowing whether or not their customers had COVID-19 would make it much easier to create a safe shopping space. Of course, you can do your bit by providing track and trace QR codes, but this only really becomes useful after the customers have been to your store and left. 

You'd hope that people going out and about to do their Christmas shopping would be sensible enough to stay at home if they suspected they had COVID-19, but this isn't always the case. Some people are unaware that they have it and others are taking too long to recognise their symptoms. 

There is a way to protect your business! Our thermal screening cameras can look out for any customers with an unusually high temperature, a key indicator of COVID-19. This can be useful, not only for your customers but for your employees too. Checking temperatures regularly will help make sure that no one visiting or working in your business over Christmas has a fever.

Thermal Screening Cameras >

We know that Christmas 2020 is going to be challenging, but with a little help from IDS Security, you can make your business safe for Christmas shoppers. Give us a call on 029 20 753 251 for more information.

If you're a small business owner, investing in a good CCTV system can help you ensure your property is secure at all times. The CCTV system needs to be built to suit the layout of your business so that all the vulnerable areas are covered. This includes any doors, windows or other entry points. The mere presence of a CCTV camera can be enough to deter criminals, but having a high-quality CCTV system installed will come in very handy if an incident ever occurs. 

What are the main benefits of a CCTV system?

Digital Witness

One of the most appealing benefits of a CCTV system for small businesses is the idea that they'll witness and record any suspicious or criminal activities that take place around the premises. The footage can be used in a court of law to prove innocence and/or guilt. The two key things that CCTV cameras record are the physical appearance of the suspect and the true nature of events. High-quality CCTV footage is hard to argue against!

Reduction of Crime

People who are up to no good, don't like the idea of being caught! Once people in the area know that the space around your shop is under surveillance, they'll be less likely to commit a crime there. Most members of the public assume that CCTV cameras are installed... pretty much everywhere. Don't be caught out by being the one small business owner that doesn't have CCTV installed!

Public Safety

Some business owners can see the footage on their CCTV cameras in real-time (whether that's inside or outside the building). If someone has their eye on the camera footage, they can ensure that someone intervenes early on. Catching someone in the act of a robbery, an assault, or any other crime can help you prevent/prosecute for it straight away!

Covid Security

As well as keeping your small business safe, CCTV cameras can be useful for general business management and COVID security! Here at IDS Security, we offer temperature screening and density control cameras that can help you to control the spread of coronavirus in your business.

These cameras work by either detecting how many people are entering/leaving the building at any given time, or doing temperature checks to ensure that people interacting with your business aren't displaying one of the key coronavirus symptoms.

What can IDS Security Systems offer my small business?

We've worked with so many small businesses over the years to help improve their security. As well as providing bespoke CCTV systems, we can also offer fire alarms, intruder alarms, access control systems and security barriers. Our technicians work with you to build a comprehensive security system that suits your small business needs exactly!

With many businesses closing their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, now is a really good time to improve your security systems. That way, you know that your business is safe, even while you're away from the premises. 

 Read More: COVID-19 Cases Still Rising - Protect Your Business

If you have any questions about setting up CCTV for your small business, don't hesitate to get in touch. Call 029 20 753 251or email us at admin@ids-securityltd.co.uk.

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