In recent years, churches have been hard pressed to address rising threats and evolving security challenges. While several out-of-the-box solutions have generated media buzz in recent months—from enlisting private security to arming members of the congregation—new developments in video analytics have positioned surveillance systems as the go-to physical solution for churches across the United States.
But first, let’s explore how the landscape of security threats to houses of worship has evolved over time.
Rising Security Threats
While the most tragic and shocking incidents of violence against churches dominate media attention and public awareness, many smaller incidents of hostility occur every week. According to a recent report from Family Research Council report, the frequency of these incidents has increased more than 800% since 2018, with houses of worship across the U.S. experiencing an average of 39 attacks every month.
“Churches are not immune to violence, disputes, domestic disagreements, vandalism and burglary,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Real security risks exist whether a congregation wants to acknowledge them or not.”
While the threats to church properties and churchgoers are clear, many congregations have struggled to identify proactive solutions.
The Need for a Holistic Approach to Church Security
Just last year, a survey conducted by Lifeway Research cited that while many churches had dropped no-firearms policies to address rising concerns around active shooter events, only 57% of U.S. pastors had developed internal active shooter response protocols—a significant drop since 2019, when nearly two-thirds of respondents said they had plans in place.
According to the same survey, 26% of churches had implemented radio communication among security personnel, 20% had deployed armed private security and 1% had deployed metal detectors.
While “some” security measures are better than “none,” it is critical that churches implement physical security measures that equip churches to proactively defend against potential threats, rather than respond to incidents once they have already begun to unfold.
To put it plainly, churches must prepare themselves to act, rather than react, when security risks arise.
How Advanced Analytics Are Transforming Physical Security Efforts
It goes without saying that video surveillance is an effective tool. After all, North America has deployed more video surveillance systems (VSS) than any other continent on the globe, with more than 98 million households relying on surveillance technology to protect their homes, according to Statista. However, recent advancements in video analytics are transforming the ways organizations leverage surveillance systems to safeguard their properties and congregants.
In the past, “analytics” referred to motion-based analytics, which allowed surveillance systems to trigger automated alerts based on microscale movement within a camera’s field-of-view (FOV). While this technology delivered highly sensitive intrusion detection, it has become notorious for generating false alarms, which lead to costly fines and unnecessary service calls.
Today, advanced analytics allow organizations to perform everything from people and vehicle counting to object detection and license plate recognition. Utilizing both historical and real-time data, these systems can also verify and classify alarms based on the TMA-AVS-01 Alarm Validation Standard, reducing the likelihood of false alarms and prioritizing confirmed threats over potential threats.
To explore the full benefits of intelligent VSSs, we’ve broken down three key analytics functionalities designed to expand the capabilities of existing systems and offer churchgoers peace of mind.
- Enhanced Threat Detection
When investing in a proactive security system, facial and license plate recognition tools are some of the most powerful threat detection functionalities available. Designed to optimize real-time alert systems, these tools build an archive of reference images over time to give security staff the option to trigger real-time alerts when there is an unfriendly face or vehicle in view.
By improving the accuracy of surveillance system alarm responses, these tools significantly reduce the frequency of false alarms and enhance the overall reliability of system alerts. By providing a valuable visual record of incidents, both tools also enhance real-time situational awareness, in addition to aiding post-event investigations and analysis.
- Digital Deterrent Solutions
Building on the capabilities of these enhanced threat detection tools, leading digital deterrent systems combine the capabilities of surveillance cameras with audio and visual devices to help prevent crimes before they occur.
Whether deployed indoors or outdoors, deterrent systems harness the power of loudspeakers and floodlights to alert intruders that they have entered a sensitive area. Coupled with high-resolution surveillance cameras, these systems leverage face, people and vehicle detection software to simultaneously disseminate real-time alerts and collect critical post-incident data. Reinforced with weather resistant housing, these devices offer churches a reliable and efficient tool for crime deterrence and perimeter surveillance.
- Advanced Event Search Capabilities
Lastly, leading analytics platforms equipped with analytic event search capabilities and long-term incident reporting tools provide valuable insights into security patterns, system performance, and user behavior.
For many churches, the ability to access a wealth of information—whether reviewing real-time event lists or analyzing trends in archived system recordings—helps church leaders make informed decisions about their security needs and forward-looking strategies.
Looking Forward
Regardless of the size of your congregation, incorporating advanced analytics into a church’s physical security system equips church leaders to address today’s complex security challenges, proactively and effectively. By incorporating the latest analytics capabilities, intelligent video surveillance solutions expand a church’s situational awareness, enabling faster incident response times and informing more strategic resource management.
By embracing these advanced tools, churches not only enhance the capabilities of their security measures but also foster a sense of peace and safety for their congregants. In an age where security concerns are more intricate than ever, advanced analytics tools give religious communities the critical ability to detect, deter and defend their facilities against all security threats.
Todd Keller is the president of Speco Technologies, www.specotech.com. After joining Speco Technologies in the late 1980s, Keller helped his father expand the scope of the company to offer video surveillance and access control solutions, in addition to audio technology. Alongside his sister, Rhonda Mutterperl—who presently serves as chief financial officer—Keller established Speco as the family-owned and industry-trusted business it is today. Throughout his career in the security industry, Keller has been dedicated to developing high-quality, innovative technology and exceptional customer service.
