| When a VIP visits allocation, police services and | | | | 1) Does the supplier know what they are talking |
| other law enforcement authorities need to do a | | | | about? Are they a specialist in tamper evidence |
| lot of preparation work to secure the area from | | | | or are they flogging you a stock solution at an |
| threats before the arrival. Buildings need to be | | | | inflated price because they see you as naive? |
| searched, vehicles stopped, identities checked and | | | | 2) Ask the manufacturer how they would get |
| the area secured. | | | | around their own technology - be wary of people |
| One of the biggest concerns for the site owner is | | | | who say that everything they sell is secure (send |
| the mechanisms used by the police to area | | | | it to a specialist such as Mercian Labels Ltd and |
| searched areas as "secure", without permanently | | | | they'll show you it isn't!) |
| marking or damaging the surface. Expensive | | | | 3) Are the minimum run lengths small enough for |
| doors, glass panels, hardwood filing cabinets and | | | | your needs? Many users don't need millions of |
| storage areas are particularly sensitive to damage | | | | security seals, just enough for their application, |
| from conventional seals used by the search team. | | | | and this can be an issue for small volume users. |
| In response to this need, tamper evident seals | | | | 4) are there lots of different technologies available |
| has evolved considerably in recent years, as | | | | to suit the exact end user application? Some |
| search teams get increasingly aware of their | | | | suppliers offer a wide range of techniques to |
| responsibilities to the sites that they are securing. | | | | provide an exact bespoke solution. |
| Another growing requirement is the requirement | | | | Remember, if its an off the shelf solution, anyone |
| for unique customisation such as numbering or | | | | else can buy it, its almost certainly NOT secure |
| barcoding - essential for tracking the threat of | | | | and there is no point taking a half baked approach |
| potential counterfeit seals used to secure | | | | to a problem where determined and clever |
| otherwise secure areas. | | | | criminal minds have been before you for a long |
| One common solution to these products is the | | | | time. Specialist suppliers of such technologies such |
| growing use of self adhesive tamper evident seals | | | | as Mercian Labels offer short run tamper evident |
| and labels, which offer unique customisation of | | | | labels specifically for sealing surfaces without |
| size, colour, print and tamper evident technology | | | | leaving a residue. Technologies include |
| idea for special VIP visits. | | | | thermochromic inks, high temperature adhesives, |
| When security seal users are selecting a | | | | security cuts, custom void messaging and DNA |
| temporary seal solution be aware of the following | | | | taggants for very specialised applications are also |
| common problems: | | | | sometimes used. |