On Q Professional Investigations

By 2014, China will become the world’s largest national homeland security and public safety market; China’s homeland security and public safety market reached $40 billion market in 2011, and it is set to grow to $45 billion in 2012; the trend will continue, increasing market value to $58 billion by 2015 and $105 billion by 2020.

Homeland Security Research Corp., a homeland security technology and market research group, has just issued two market research reports — China Homeland Security & Public Safety Market —2012-2020 and U.S. Homeland Security & Public Safety Market – 2013-2020 – which forecast that by 2014 China will become the world’s largest national homeland security and public safety market.

The China report reveals that:

-Two out of every three new airports built in the world are in China
-According to China’s “Twelfth 5-Year Plan (2011-2015),” China spends more on “HLS & Public Security” than it does on defense
-China’s government 650 “Safe City” cumulative 2013-2020 market will surpass $180 billion
-The country’s public transportation system, which is the world’s largest, is poised to undergo a $20 billion security upgrade
-The U.S. Department of Commerce assists and encourages the export of American homeland security and public safety products to China
-Companies such as FLIR, GE, Honeywell, Panasonic, Samsung, Siemens, Bosch, and EADS are already active in this market

Homeland Security Research says that while Chinese manufacturers supply low and mid-end security products, the high end-premium security related technologies are provided by foreign manufacturers, contributing to $24.3 billion in sales in 2011. For example, China’s smart video surveillance market, the world’s largest and the cornerstone of the Safe City and perimeter security markets, is dominated by foreign-based corporations, which supply artificial intelligence-based video content analysis systems.

According to Dan Inbar, the report’s lead analyst: “Three decades of dramatic economic growth have bred social tensions, ethnic frictions and domestic terror which led the central government to invest “whatever it takes” to defend the economical-social-political fabric of China. This has resulted in the massive $40 billion market in 2011 and $45 billion in 2012, a trend which will reach $58 billion by 2015 and $105 billion by 2020. As I speak, China is transforming itself into the global leading source for business opportunities to suppliers of homeland security & public safety products.”

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Two people driving down West Front Street together on Monday morning apparently thought they were doing the right thing when they leaped out of their vehicle and rushed to the defense of what appeared to be a man assaulting a woman, authorities said.

There was just one problem: The woman actually had just robbed the man with whom she was tussling, and the would-be good Samaritans inadvertently allowed her to get away, according to city Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig.

The female suspect remained at large as of late Monday.

“The two (passing motorists) were not involved (in the robbery),” Hellwig said. “They were released and have not been charged.”

About 12:30 a.m. Monday, police responding to a report of a robbery in progress on the 500 block of West Front Street found the victim, a 26-year-old male who lives nearby, authorities explained. The victim reported that he was attacked by an unknown female as he was walking down the street, then robbed of about $400 in cash and a gold chain valued at about $500, according to Hellwig.

The victim said he tried to prevent his assailant from leaving the area, engaging her in a physical struggle, when the passing motorists apparently intervened, restraining him but not assaulting him, Hellwig said. The female suspect, spotting an opening, turned and ran, first trying unsuccessfully to hail a taxi before running down Plainfield Avenue, according to the investigation.

The victim attempted to pursue but soon lost sight of her, Hellwig added. After police arrived, the man provided a description of the motorists’ vehicle — a small, white Honda — and a vehicle matching that description was pulled over shortly thereafter.

The would-be good Samaritans, a 21-year-old city male and a 26-year-old city female, then relayed their story to investigators. Elements of the story were confirmed when video surveillance footage from a nearby gas station was located and reviewed, Hellwig said, adding that the entire situation was complicated by the fact that the victim was intoxicated and spoke limited English.

The footage included clear images of the female suspect and the robbery, Hellwig added, noting that investigators are making progress toward identifying and locating the suspect. The robbery victim was shaken but did not require hospitalization, authorities said.

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WASHINGTON – Legislation that would require states to recognize concealed-carry firearm permits issued by other states got a boost on Wednesday, passing the House by a vote of 272-154 after contentious debate.

Supporters — including the National Rifle Association and 43 House Democrats — said the legislation, the Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, would simplify rules for permit-holders when they carry weapons across state lines.

But opponents called it a “race to the bottom,” saying it would force states to recognize looser permitting requirements of other states. States could be forced to issue permits to criminals convicted of dealing drugs to minors and domestic violence, Democratic opponents argued.

“This bill will undermine public safety,” said Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va. “We should let the states decide whether or not, or under what conditions, to allow people who are in their state to carry concealed handguns.”

On the other side, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said the policy would be similar to allowing drivers to use their licenses in other states.

But law enforcement organizations, which widely oppose the bill, have said they aren’t capable of accessing other states’ concealed-carry permit databases for verification purposes.

The House passed an amendment authorizing a study of the ability of state and local law enforcement to verify out-of-state permits. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said that study should have occurred before the House approved the proposal.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., has 245 co-sponsors in the House but is likely to meet stiff resistance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The legislation would still require permit-holders carrying concealed guns in another state to follow that state’s laws, particularly restrictions on where guns can be carried — universities, for instance, or bars or government buildings. But the bill wouldn’t require them to meet all of that state’s application qualifications, such as a minimum age requirement or a totally clear criminal background.

A total of 49 states — all except for Illinois — have some sort of law allowing the carrying of concealed guns, and would be required under this legislation to recognize the less-strict permits of other states. Under the current system, states must negotiate direct agreements to recognize one another’s permits.

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