Security System (Video Surveillance Systems ) for Places of Worship- SecureTower® Solution
Place of worship security system is critical. When you think about it; video surveillance is even more important for places of worship than almost any other institution. As with schools or colleges, these institutions are overflowing with people that not only deserve but expect to be kept safe from harm and comfortable at all times.
That is to say, people go to places of worship for safety, comfort, and a sense of belonging. At no time do they expect to feel vulnerable or in any sense of danger. For this reason, it’s increasingly important to provide a secure environment for members and peace of mind at the very least.
At a time when mass shootings and criminal activity is so common, it also makes sense for these churches, mosques and synagogues to pay more attention. Because, unfortunately, these incidents are on the rise and FBI crime statistics indicate the number of attacks on temples, churches and synagogues has increased by 34% in just four years (More on that later).
Now, that’s not to say these violent acts are the only threat to places of worship but rather to emphasize the growing number of nefarious events across the United States in recent times.
The truth is, there are many more reasons why video surveillance is so crucial to a church, mosque or synagogue. For instance, these places of worship usually store valuable items that hold significant historical and cultural importance. Nefarious individuals and groups will often target these places with the intention of stealing valuable items to either use as ransom or sell on the black market.
Why Place of Worship Security System so important
Many places of worship are open 24/7 and welcome strangers with open arms. What’s more, these facilities welcome a huge number of people at the same time which further highlights the need for security measures. Quite often, you will find a strategy in place in which new church members are introduced to a security protocol. Several decades ago, this might have seemed like an unnecessary measure but the statistics mentioned above tell a very different story.
Security is the key to handling a wide variety of emergency situations such as fire or theft and failure to pay attention to these incidents is likely to result in damage to either people or property, or both.
As if that’s not enough, not everyone respects the open nature of places of worship. It’s true, some individuals will abuse this sense of freedom and even desecrate statues or steal objects of worship. It’s true, theft and acts of vandalism are more common than we would like to think but thankfully, security awareness in places of worship is also on the rise.
The Importance of a Security Plan for Places of Worship
Security procedures should be created in such a way that they help people feel and behave safely. But they should not hinder or distract members and this is why video surveillance is so effective.
At the same time, a security plan can only do so much and cannot address the same issues as other practical elements which further highlights the importance of video surveillance. That being said, it’s worth noting how electronic devices should be kept in a secure place to prevent against any unauthorized access.
Also, an inventory list should be compiled and this is especially important when it comes to making any insurance claims further down the road. For the most organized places of worship, there is always the option of labeling items for the purpose of identification after theft.
It should also be said that surveillance and security should address every part of the infrastructure. For instance, a church rectory is just as much of a target as the church itself. Similarly, every entry or exit point on a building is a potential break in security which needs to be monitored at all times.
As for installing video surveillance, this process will provide a place of worship with quick and easy way to monitor whatever might be happening in the facility. However, the convenience of this kind of system is then trumped by the capability it provides to respond and take swift action to a particular incident. It is especially important that the security system is set up by a reputable security systems integrator like SecureTower. While a video surveillance system will have the benefit of a central command center, it’s useful to know the basic functions and capabilities of a video surveillance system.
What You Should Know About Video Surveillance and Data Protection for Place of Worship Security System
Video surveillance is all about observing an area and looking for certain behaviors that might pose some kind of threat or concern to a place of worship. As with any surveillance at a sporting event or on public transportation, these cameras can quickly identify emergency situations or improper activity.
Video surveillance can also identify people and use a network of cameras to track individuals throughout this place of worship. On the other hand, this video surveillance can inform these people that such behavior is being recorded and potentially deter them from such activity.
With this kind of evidence to hand, a place of worship can use video surveillance to prosecute. As for privacy matters, it’s perfectly okay to record and use this footage which is what happens in most public spaces. If well-designed and structured, this system will be subtle but visible enough so that it provides a sense of security to the members of a place of worship.
For the sake of transparency and understanding, let’s quickly consider the subject of data protection for security cameras. Video surveillance cameras can be used to target identified security threats and problems. However, institutions are required by law to display notices which inform visitors or staff about the presence and purpose of these cameras. Keeping this in mind, a reliable company like SecureTower® can help to select and strategically position a network of IP cameras around the facility to ensure everything is above board.
Why You Need Video Surveillance as a critical part of Place of Worship Security System
As already mentioned, the nature of a place of worship is very open. This means that getting inside is easy and a certain vulnerability is felt by individuals working in the church. And being a place of congregational gathering, restricting access or closing off these areas is a rather tricky subject to approach. Let’s take a look at some benefits to installing a video surveillance system:
Productivity
Video surveillance will inevitably bring peace of mind to the pastor or whomever might be working in the church. With so much to organize, this surveillance can help everyone involved to better serve the people who attend this place of worship.
Security
Video surveillance in a place of worship can provide visual evidence or criminal activity. You can also monitor and control this video surveillance system from a single point of access.
Control
Video surveillance can be accessed from anywhere and at anytime. For instance, most systems can be controlled using a smartphone or web-based device.
Liability
Whenever visitors have an accident or make a claim, video surveillance is a quick way to confirm or dispute these incidents. For a place of worship, this removes any potential awkward encounters and provides a simple process to follow in uncomfortable circumstances.
Storage
IP video surveillance systems can store a lot of digital data that can be used and accessed later down the road.
For these reasons, a place of worship can benefit from investing in video surveillance, while ensuring a greater sense of security to everyone involved. When you consider the vulnerable nature of a church or mosque or similar, these benefits are arguably even more important than most other institutions.
But that’s just part of the story…
Mass Shootings and Criminal Threats in the United States
FBI data has clearly underscored the physical threat to places of worship in recent years. Between 2014 and 2018, countless attacks were reported and these accounted for a 34% rise in such incidents. But did you know there were more mass shootings than days in 2019?
It’s true, there were 417 mass shootings last year including a frightening incident at a synagogue in Poway, California, a mass shootout in a baptist church in Texas and another at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. The truth is, there are simply too many to mention and the statistics continue to rise.
But why places of worship, we all seem to ask?
It’s wrong to generalize but a place of worship is an obvious target for people who feel bent on crime against a particular race or religion. In each instance, the perpetrator knows that these people are vulnerable and quite often, the church or synagogue or mosques is without sufficient security.
And the Rise of Antisemitism in the United States
Let’s not get into who is to blame and just accept that antisemitism is on the rise in the United States. It’s true, many studies and surveys have accounted for this fact in recent times.
In fact, a recent survey shows that more than 80% of Jewish participants have witnessed an increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years. As if that’s not enough, the Anti-Defamation League has outlined a 150% increase in such incidents in just the space of four years. According to a report in Washington Post, this rise in antisemitism is a sign of illness in terms of the social health in America but regardless, the outcome is an increased threat to people and places of worship.
The Arrival of Affordable Surveillance for Place of Worship Security System
It should go without saying that places of worship need to maintain a solid plan for security. As with schools and other public areas, these places are vulnerable and responsible for the safety of many. When it comes to entry points, there is no better way to secure an area, while the presence of an actual camera can act as a deterrent to nefarious individuals who might be contemplating any such action.
On the other hand, video surveillance is also a great way for those in charge to monitor the likes of parking lots or areas within the facility that provide child services. In this sense, you might wonder why so many places of worship are without security cameras (CCTV)?
Many places of worship are simply worried about the financial burden. In other words, these churches, mosques, synagogues etc fear they cannot afford a high tech system to keep their members safe and secure. However, the cost of video surveillance from companies like SecureTower® is a lot less than previous years and quality camera systems can now be acquired for a very reasonable outlay and at a very reasonable cost.
Also, these surveillance systems from SecureTower® can be monitored and reviewed using a web-based device or smartphone, which further reduces the amount of stress or requirements on personnel within the facility.
Surveillance is the Ultimate Tool for Documentation
Whether a place of worship is anticipating an emergency, accident or criminal activity,
documentation is incredibly important. But let’s consider the importance of this documentation.
You see, evidence and information is critical to any nefarious incident that impacts a place of worship. However, eye witnesses and personal accounts are sometimes subjected to influence, while video surveillance is something that cannot be forgotten or changed in any way.
For similar reasons, this video footage also gives the pastor or leading authority a chance to view specific incidents and form their own opinion based on what they see. Needless to say, this greatly reduces the risk of falsified claims, neglect or any wrong doing in general. But let’s not stray too far away from the most important reason to install video surveillance in a place of worship….
The Most Important Reason for Video Surveillance in Places of Worship
Taking responsibility for the flock brings a variety of considerations for a place of worship and this is particularly important given the heightened need for security and safety in these places. In fact, if we take the first teachings of Christ into account, we can see the true importance of the physical and spiritual needs of his followers. Similar teachings are found in almost every religion but the point is, a place of worship is primarily focused on the well being and security of each member.
With an increase in nefarious activist and criminal activity, this suggests that every place of worship should be intentional in their effort to create an environment of safety and awareness.
As established above, opportunity is one of the major contributors to crime. In fact, there is a law enforcement theory called “The Broken Window” which points out how an overlooked item often suggests that nobody cares about this same item. In other words, when broken windows are left broken, everything else is likely to be neglected. What’s more, this neglect is as sign that a place of worship has lower standards and should expect any unwanted or nefarious activity to show up.
Obviously nobody deserves this kind of thing to happen but the truth is, video surveillance is the only real way to deter such activity in a place of worship. And then there’s the rise of mass shootings and antisemitic behavior – something every place of worship needs to protect against. SecureTower® routinely provides extraordinary and exceptional video surveillance services to these critically important institutions.
