Barry Bros Blog

CCTV is one of the best weapons in the fight against theft and crime and, in the UK, the public are well used to seeing CCTV cameras pretty much everywhere they go.

Whilst the public are generally supportive of these cameras, it is important to be aware of the fact that they do involve a certain degree of intrusion into people’s lives. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has conducted research into the public’s perceptions when it comes to the use of CCTV, finding that there is an expectation that it is used responsibly and with certain safeguards in place.

Organisations that use CCTV are required to do so within the realms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act does not apply when CCTV is used in a domestic environment to protect a home from burglary, just in a commercial setting. (more…)

A British Standard is something that sets a benchmark for quality in goods and services. These standards are set by the British Standards Institution (BSI).

You’ll often see what is called the BSI Kitemark^TM on anything from vehicles to financial products: it is something that has been around for many years and is well known as a sign of reassurance.

Another mark you might come across is the ‘EN’ mark. This standards for European Norm and is a standard that outlines rules, guidelines or characteristics that are demanded of systems, services or products. (more…)

Are you worried as a business about crime? You are not alone – some 81% of businesses have said it is a problem in their local area.

Surprisingly though, almost a quarter – 24% – do not have an intruder alarm fitted. With 75% of incidents happening when premises are unoccupied, this is incredibly worrying. Intruder alarms can alert key holders and / or the police to a suspected break-in, so you can imagine how the statistics would change for the better if some or all of that 24% went ahead and had one fitted. (more…)

Keys have been in use since ancient Egyptian times. In fact, the modern key we use today, invented by Linus Yale Junior in 1861, was based on the 4,000 year-old principle behind the original creation.

Amazing really, in today’s age of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it technical innovation, that something manual that has been around for so long is still in use. With electronic versions of so many day-to-day things now being the norm – from flight boarding passes to music – it makes you wonder how the humble key has survived, and begs the question, how much longer will it be a part of our lives? (more…)

In July, the Law Commission, a Ministry of Justice sponsored public advisory body, presented a report to Government. It comprised a set of recommendations for reforms and a draft bill called the Insurance Bill, all of which, it is hoped, will revolutionise the way commercial insurance is sold in the UK.

With current insurance law based around the Marine Insurance Act of 1906, it doesn’t take much to realise that the law is now seriously out of date and it is no wonder that so many disputes between businesses and insurers arise. (more…)