Safe Cities - A New Multi-Billion Security Market to Stop Crime and Mass Terror

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Feb 25, 2014, 12:26 ET

LONDON, February 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

A disruptive British technology changing how security is delivered throughout the world.

Today, for the first time in history, there are more people living in cities than in rural areas, making many more of us possible targets for terrorism. Because of this a 'new' multi-billion dollar market, called 'Safe Cities', is set to grow to its first $1 billion by 2016. However, this isn't news at all to one innovator who predicted this as far back as the start of the millennium. The technology needed to deliver Safe Cities, and a significant leap towards eradicating mass terrorism, was in fact patented in 2002 by a Londoner, Stuart Thompson.

Stuart's initial invention is incredibly sophisticated software and cameras with multiple fixed and moving lenses, operating completely automatically to monitor large populated areas for anomalies. Proven to ease the burden on Local Authorities' CCTV services, it also had the significant added benefit of meeting the privacy concerns of communities.

In 2003 Stuart was offered the UK Government's largest financial UK Trade & Investment Smart Award for his invention, and by 2007 the Government published a report seeking his solution for the UK's local authorities. Now, his group of companies, trading under the brand name Viseum UK, is at the forefront of the security industry and well-known for introducing cutting edge security technologies as trusted plug-and-play solutions.

David Evennett, London Member of Parliament and Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury, said "I met with Mr Thompson recently and was impressed by his entrepreneurial spirit and invention. I wish Viseum UK every success with their exciting and innovative solutions."

Stuart Thompson says, "We have continued to maintain our more than 10 year lead on our competition, both for the technology required for today's Safe Cities and how to introduce this reassurance to the world." He adds "Another testament to this was being granted 20 years' Patent protection for this idea."

As with many of the world's quantum leaps in technology, it was initially met with opposition from its rivals. Paradoxically, it's these rivals that are now growing the company's sales faster than ever. With today's security needs being more demanding than ever before, the absolute requirement is for security equipment to consistently deliver results: something that none of the company's rivals have ever achieved.

'Safe City' is also part of another initiative, the 'Smart City'. Combined, these two concepts create a market that will be worth $5.1 billion by 2016. In 'Safe City' terms this encompasses the vast majority of the areas covered by Viseum UK's particular expertise: video content analytics, command and control room systems, physical information management software, and mobile video surveillance.

Viseum UK is now contributing heavily not only to Safe Cities, but Smart Cities also, and the company is confidently helping the world deliver 'Safe Nations'.

For further information, visit http://www.viseum.co.uk

Notes to editors:

REF: VIS6932 - SAFE CITIES

http://www.viseum.co.uk/blog/safe-city-reference-material

IHS market report for Safe Cities - http://www.ihs.com/info/sc/e/safe-cities.aspx +

> HIS White Paper what is the Safe City Concept Jan 2014 <