Camera links
Screen plc has won a contract from Transport for London (TfL) to integrate their traffic monitoring camera network with four existing CCTV borough schemes in London. The contract enables TfL, the London borough councils and the Metropolitan police to gain control of certain strategically placed cameras – regardless of which agency owns them – to use them for monitoring traffic levels, crime prevention and security and policing purposes, gaining much greater operational efficiency.
As many as 14 of the 32 London Boroughs already use cameras installed by Screen, and the company aims to capitalise on the potential demand for integrated CCTV systems enabling inter-agency use. The integration of the system will bring together 2,500 cameras already installed in London, giving each agency use of a significantly higher number of cameras than they each own.
Screen is developing the software that will meet the specifications of TfL’s open protocol and support networking and sharing of video images across multiple CCTV systems over wide geographical areas. The communications protocol will be incorporated with a control by touch CCTV management system designed by Screen’s subsidiary company, Petards Vision.
Ken Oastler, assistant director of Traffic Technology Services at TfL Street Management, says the intention is to persuade other London boroughs to participate in similar projects, resulting in capital cost savings and reductions in on-going maintenance.
Foundation gains intelligent access
NT Security recently won a contract to install a sophisticated access control system at the Henry Moore Foundation at Dane Tree House at Perry Green in Hertfordshire.
25 locks have been fitted with the Intellikey system as part of a two-phase installation project.
The existing system of high security Chubb and European cylinder locks were replaced with the sophisticated Intellikey access system because it required the security officer to walk around the site with 14 different keys. Additionally, if one of the masterkeys were lost, the capital cost of replacing all the locks and keys was considered too high. The new Intellikey system enables lost keys to be disabled instantly without requiring lock hardware to be replaced.
The system has been endorsed by the foundation’s security assessors and gives complete flexibility for the site’s main keyholder. It stores personalised data enabling positive key holder identification and comprises an audit trail facility in both the key and the lock giving total accountability at all times. Each key has its own encrypted software controlling entry to locks. A built-in microprocessor means each key can be instructed to open specific doors at different times, allowing tiered access for staff as well as individual user specification.
Smartwater gains Mercedes deal
Smartwater has struck a series of new deals with major users, including nationwide Mercedes dealerships, for its award-winning liquid forensic coding system used in property marking and intruder alarm applications. Other users include Guy’s Hospital, Spar shops across Northern Ireland and national car dealerships including Network Q as well as Mercedes, who are using the system to prevent car theft.
Smartwater has also gained increased police backing for the technology. Nottingham police are issuing the product to all victims of burglary and residents in high risk areas across the city in a bid to reduce repeat victimisation. Greater Manchester Police have already reported a 90% reduction of burglaries at schools in the Beswick, Clayton and Openshaw areas, following the introduction of Smartwater last year. About a dozen schools, described by police as ‘chronically victimised’ have also overturned their regular trend of major crime.
Smartwater uses the principle of DNA profiling to identify criminals and stolen property, and is manufactured under license by the Home Office Forensic Science Service. It can be incorporated into alarm systems which spray intruders with a special liquid if they break in. Alternatively it can be painted onto property or used as labels.
The Eyes have it
Primary Image has won a contract to provide a Californian prison with the 2nd Eyes Enterprise digital recorder. It will form a networked digital video recording solution for the prison giving high picture quality as well as flexible and reliable storage and retrieval of footage, which is a crucial requirement for such top security sites.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons in Northern California evaluated and selected Primary Image’s system as a reliable choice because it offers high resolution images with full frame refresh as standard.
Image quality of this calibre is essential in high security applications where the need to store and review good quality footage is crucial.
The system also allows the flexibility to choose whichever storage medium best suits the application. The Federal Bureau chose high integrity RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) because it allows instant access to recorded data.
It is also claimed to have an advantage over digital tapes which often have a slight delay in retrieving images.
Case CCTV bags maintenance deal
Thomas Cook has awarded Case CCTV, a division of Case Security, a contract to maintain its nationwide 750 branch CCTV surveillance network. The company will also upgrade some of the existing CCTV camera network with new high performance colour CCTV cameras, monitors and VCRs.
The contract also includes a CCTV video tape management service. In addition, Thomas Cook will use Case’s sophisticated video enhancement service to increase the quality of CCTV footage for evidential purposes in criminal prosecutions.
Case already supplies 35mm photographic surveillance systems to Thomas Cook’s retail outlets.
Boots opts for remote CCTV integration
Quadrant Video Systems has completed an additional GB pound 140,000 CCTV surveillance integration scheme at the Boots Company’s 300-acre Nottingham site. The company was initially called in to supply and install a ground-breaking GB pound 750,000 traffic management and standalone CCTV security system for Boots. The latest scheme supplies remote CCTV integration for the previously standalone system which used 26 Philips cameras at the Boots the Chemist headquarters building, and transmits real time images to Quadrant’s sophisticated site protection control room.
Boots says the company has cut down on its use of contract guarding, saving itself GB pound 80,000 per year. It has also maximised the use of its personnel by removing the duplication of control room operation. Using a fibre-optic cable link, images from the existing camera network at the headquarters are transmitted in real time and are monitored at the Quadrant site protection control room. The control room uses a mix of integrated systems including advanced touch-screen control to call up images. It also manages the sophisticated automatic number plate recognition system which controls the daily 10,000-vehicle traffic flow into the Boots site. In addition, CCTV cameras located at each of the site’s 12 entry and exit barriers and a seven day loop, 1.3 Terra-byte hard disk recording device provide sophisticated monitoring to ensure security at all times.
Stuart Davidson, the Boots Company’s site protection manager, explained the reason for the additional work. “By applying management for value analysis of our situation, it became apparent that we could operate more efficiently and effectively by monitoring the BTC HQ building’s CCTV system from the main control room.”
Entrotec approved for second term
Entrotec has been appointed to supply door entry and video access control systems to the LHC, a consortium of local authorities and housing associations providing specialist technical services to the public sector, for a second term of one year.
Entrotec designs and manufactures controlled entry systems for all types of building applications, providing easy to install, simple to use and highly reliable systems. The LHC tests products, services and installers on behalf of public sector organisations seeking the best value for projects, and runs one of the largest building procurement programmes in the UK.
Under the arrangement, Entrotec will supply and commission a range of products that do not need to be separately evaluated by LHC’s customers, resulting in major cost and time savings for them. The range of access control systems approved include vandal resistant call panels, fob operated proximity readers, fully isolated telephone handsets with or without audio and video, control and isolator units, Fireman’s switches and special equipment for the deaf and partially sighted. These are used at a number of local authority residences throughout the UK.
Entrotec’s service also includes delivery of standard items within two to four weeks for special items and a guarantee to supply replacement items overnight from stock. The LHC has tested the range of products for corrosion, vandalism and misuse. The door entry systems are also suitable for standalone or networked applications and are easy to operate, giving options on timed or on/off privacy switching. The products also comply with the European EMC Directive 89/336 and are CE marked.
Twice in succession
Stortech has gained a repeat order to provide security cameras for a further 80 buses for bus operator, Travel West Midlands. The high value camera order will allow the buses to be fitted with high resolution colour security cameras, as well as its own custom-built power supplies to ensure continuous monitoring. Each camera, from Stortech’s Pecan range, is supplied in a vandal-proof smoked dome. Typically around three to four cameras are placed at strategic points on the bus allowing drivers the ability to monitor pictures via a small liquid crystal display in the cab.
Travel West Midlands has already equipped 550 buses with the dome cameras to cut the cost of vandalism. Paul Elsey, general manager of CCTV at Stortech Electronics commented: “We are very pleased with the way the cameras have performed. They are capturing some excellent information and detail, and hopefully they will act as a deterrent to vandals.”
Psychiatric staff protected
Work has already begun on a GB pound 200,000 contract won by ADT Fire and Security to install a state-of-the- art staff attack and location system at the Reaside Clinic in Birmingham to cut down on workplace violence.
ADT faced stiff competition to win the prestigious contract at the medium secure psychiatric unit. The company is putting in a system to provide a safer working environment for the staff, who are regularly required to deal with volatile patients.
The system comprises a network of ceiling sensors fixed at points throughout the building. All staff at the clinic will be issued with intelligent badges that automatically locate their whereabouts on a central display monitor.
The attack system can be used by staff to raise the alarm and request back-up if they are in danger of being attacked by a patient.
Reaside Clinic has also elected to tag its security keys using the asset tagging facility of the system. Unauthorised removal of keys from the building would automatically raise the alarm. The system can also be upgraded and extended to include access control and asset location management.
Philippe Epifanoff, care communications marketing manager at ADT explained: “ADT’s staff attack and staff location systems are the most technologically advanced of their type. The system is able to identify a member of staff’s exact position within the facility on a central display monitor. This is especially useful in today’s health workplace where premises are so short-staffed. The addition of the attack system will give them extra peace of mind as they know that help will always be on hand if something does go wrong.”
Intelligent parking control
Surrey-based access specialists, EA Parking, has completed a deal to ensure controlled use of a customer car park at one of Holmes Place health club’s flagship sites in Nottingham. The car park was often open to abuse because of its proximity to Nottingham’s mainline station causing inconvenience to the club’s members.
EA Parking has installed the Orion intelligent parking system comprising an entry/exit station, two payment stations and three barriers. Members are issued with a ticket at the entrance barrier, giving free parking for four hours. The tickets are validated for exit inside the health club, giving managers at the club greater control over the legitimate use of the car park.
The Orion system can also be set to personal requirements with specific time zones and parking charges. It integrates with Windows NT based management systems and provides audit trails and reports, which help to reduce fraud as well as identify car park usage.
