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Merger sees Synectics Security
become “major force” in UK
8
DIGITAL DEVICES like smart
doorbells, dashcam footage, car
GPS systems and even Amazon
Alexa are providing more evidence
in criminal trials, the Director of
Public Prosecutions has revealed.
Addressing the Westminster
Policy Forum on the challenges of
prosecuting crime in 2020, Max
Hill QC spoke at length about how
developments in digital technology
are driving significant changes in
the way in which evidence is
collected and then used in court.
Hill observed: “As little as 15
years ago, criminal investigations
and subsequent prosecutions were
likely to focus on the crime scene
for evidence backed up by
eyewitness testimonies and door-to-
door enquiries. This has been
transformed by the way in which
we now live our lives and share
information in the online space.”
He continued: “The digital
devices which are becoming part of
the fabric of everyday life can
actively provide key evidence to
pinpoint whereabouts and provide
footage of an incident or a timeline.
Alexa has already been used as a
line of enquiry in a murder case in
the US. The opportunities and
threats presented by the digital age
represent a constantly evolving
challenge for all parts of the
criminal justice system, as indeed
they do for wider society.”
The Director of Public
Prosecutions gave an example of
how the GPS system in a Land
Rover Discovery was vital in
providing evidence during a
crossbow murder case this year.
Following the victim’s death, the
defendant was questioned about his
possession of crossbows, but it was
only two weeks later (when the
GPS system was retrieved from his
partner’s burned out vehicle) that
vital evidence was found.
Information retained by Jaguar
Land Rover proved the vehicle had
been used for reconnaissance as it
was traced to the victim’s driveway
the night before the murder. It also
showed that the car had travelled to
the crime scene again the following
night and remained there until 12
minutes after the victim was shot.
The system indicated the boot
was opened and closed when the
car arrived and before it left. The
defendant was convicted and
received a life sentence.
Legislation
protects national
capability to fight
serious crime
NEW LEGISLATION which
underpins the work of MI5, the
police service and other public
authorities tackling serious
crimes has been introduced to
Parliament. The Covert Human
Intelligence Sources Bill provides
a “clear and consistent” statutory
basis for a limited number of
public authorities to continue to
authorise certain individuals’
participation in criminality in
managed circumstances.
Undercover operatives and
agents play a crucial role in
preventing and safeguarding
victims from the most serious
crimes, including terrorism. In
order to gain the trust of those
under investigation, there are
occasions where they need to
participate in criminality
themselves. This is a long-standing
capability that’s critical
for national security.
The Covert Human
Intelligence Sources Bill provides
certainty to public authorities
already using this critical
capability and confirms a
common set of safeguards by
which they are bound, including
compliance with Human Rights.
Security Minister James
Brokenshire said: “We owe a
huge debt of gratitude to the
men and women who put
themselves in often dangerous
situations in order to protect our
national security and keep the
public safe. It’s important that
those with a responsibility to
protect the public can continue
with this vital work, knowing full
well that they’re on a sound legal
footing to do so.”
Ken McCallum, director
general of MI5, stated: “Since
March 2017, MI5 and Counter-
Terrorism Policing have together
thwarted 27 terror attacks.
Without the contribution of
human agents, be in no doubt
that many of these attacks would
not have been prevented. In
some situations, it’s both
necessary and proportionate to
authorise agents to be involved
in some managed level of
criminal activity in order to win
or maintain the trust of those
intent on harming the UK and
gain the critical information
needed to save lives.”
SYNECTICS MOBILE Systems and
the Quadrant Security Group have
merged to form Synectics Security,
which is being badged as one of the
largest independent security
integrators operating in the UK.
Combining the on-vehicle
expertise of Synectics Mobile
Systems and the Quadrant Security
Group’s experience in providing
electronic security solutions for
complex, critical and heavily
regulated environments, Synectics
Security works with ‘Best-of-Breed’
technology partners to offer “one of
the most comprehensive product and
service portfolios available”.
Based out of its Nottingham
headquarters, the unified business
will continue to serve customers in
the UK and Ireland operating in the
public space, heritage, high security,
banking and finance, critical
infrastructure and transport sectors.
Powerful combined capability
“Pairing decades of experience of
dealing with the complexities of on-vehicle
systems integration together
with the expertise and specialist
technical qualifications necessary for
successful deployment of large-scale
security and surveillance solutions
creates a powerful combined
capability,” explained Iain Stringer,
managing director of Synectics
Security. “That’s not just in terms of
transportation where there’s clear
opportunity and alignment of skills.”
Stringer continued: “As society
progresses towards an ever-more
connected urban infrastructure,
we’re ideally positioned to help our
customers across all of the individual
sectors in which we operate to
leverage the opportunities ahead and
work more effectively together.”
When asked about some of the
new opportunities Synectics Security
hopes to deliver for its customers,
Stringer stated: “We have an exciting
development around on-vehicle
camera monitoring to announce
very soon that will have significant
implications for both new installs
and retrofit on-vehicle projects.
We’re also expanding our offer in
terms of cloud capabilities, analytics,
intelligent software and AI
integration. We know that these are
key areas for customers.”
Customer insight consultation
In order to gain an even deeper
understanding of customer needs,
the security integrator is currently
conducting an extensive customer
insight consultation. In addition to
steering technical development and
strategic partnerships, the
information generated will be used
to enhance and, ultimately, improve
the customer experience.
As part of the launch, Synectics
Security has also referenced a
number of new projects and
customers on the horizon. While
these cannot be named at present,
they include work for a major rail
operator linked to COVID-19
requirements, a police force-centric
solution and, in addition, a large-scale
military contract.
Commenting on Synectics
Security’s continued focus on
tailoring solutions to meet these new
briefs and the needs of all its
customers, commercial director
Mark Pennington informed Security
Matters: “Both businesses have
always worked to a customer
promise of selecting the right
innovative technologies for a tailored
solution meeting precise needs. That
hasn’t changed, but we’re now in a
far stronger position to deliver on
that promise and more besides.”
Internet of Things “helping to provide key
evidence in criminal trials” observes DPP
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