The security monitoring software firm Sentinel provided by Monitor Computer Systems and Facewatch are forming a technology partnership.
Sentinel supplies alarm monitoring systems to the UK market with around 600,000 live signalling systems.
Facewatch is facial recognition for the retail and hospitality sectors. In this integration, monitoring stations can receive alerts from the Facewatch system and activate a series of responses including automatic audio announcements to alert a ‘subject of interest’ that they have been detected and remotely manage the incident through their video links to customer premises.
Michael Askew, CEO, Monitor Computer Systems said: “Profit margins in retail are so tight that losses from theft can undermine the viability of stores. The Facewatch facial recognition system provides a means of preventing shoplifting before it happens, resulting in significant loss reduction. By immediately alerting store managers and security guards of the entrance of a suspicious person, a low-key response can deter would-be thieves.
“Where staff are unable to respond to potential theft or anti-social behaviour, the Facewatch system can transmit notifications to a Sentinel alarm receiving centre, where the operators can respond by issuing audible warnings over the store PA system. Eight ‘Til Late stores can gain particular benefit from this remote protection service during the hours when managers are not present and staff are particularly vulnerable. We believe that this combination of Facewatch and Sentinel technologies will be a big step forward in the fight against crime.”
Nick Fisher, CEO, Facewatch Ltd added: “Facial recognition is fast becoming the ‘go to crime deterrent’ for the retail sector and as we come out of lockdown and enter a tough period of high unemployment and a long recession crime and anti-social behaviour, which is already showing a huge spike, will only get worse. It is therefore incredibly timely that we have been able to partner with Michael and his team to deliver the integration upgrade now. It will continue to ensure Sentinel is the leading monitoring software available. The Facewatch-Sentinel integration can be installed at a customer’s premises in less than a day by any Facewatch accredited partner and automatically links to the customers designated monitoring station.”
