Nottingham-based Central Security Systems has installed a CCTV system that forms the core of the Safer Runnymede initiative that was introduced as one of the first schemes to attract Home Office funding. The scheme comprises a state of the art CCTV system, community constables, environmental improvements and speed management on the borough’s roads.
The project involves equipment from JVC, Pentax and Petards Vision and links a series of towns and villages in the historical Surrey district including Chertsey, Addlestone, Virginia Water, Egham and neighbouring Staines. In addition, St Peter’s hospital in Chertsey has also benefitted from a linked system.
Half a dozen JVC TK-C1460 cameras are trained on parks in the Surrey district and are monitored on a 24/7 basis from the Runnymede Borough Council offices at Addlestone. All the outlying districts are also monitored using cameras with high tech Pentax lenses from the purpose built control room which doubles as a crisis and out-of-hours call centre, run in conjunction with Surrey Police.
A series of JVC day-night cameras using infra-red lighting watch over local parks and has eradicated after-dark crime. The pictures produced in pitch dark are said to be as clear as if it were daylight. David Dodd, manager of the Safer Runnymede scheme, says: “We are not talking about a drop in crime. We are talking about a total cessation of criminal activity relating to drug taking and vandalism in our parks as a direct result of the offenders knowing they are being watched by our cameras.”
The cameras are monitored from a multi-function control room at Addlestone, which links the Scheme’s CCTV, Careline programme, Shop Watch, and out-of-hours calls for the council. The Addlestone control room was designed by David Dodd, and sports a variety of JVC monitors.
Councillor Chris Norman, who chairs the Leisure and Environment Committee overseeing Safer Runnymede initiative, said: “Our CCTV system has proved its worth with a number of high profile arrests. It is particularly heartwarming to hear the reports of how elderly people in the area are feeling much safer, particularly at night. Systems like ours are expensive, but are worth every penny.”
Additionally, security at St. Peter’s Hospital has been increased with 60 cameras linked to a new hospital control room featuring Petards Vision’s Advantage.Net system.
The cameras cover hospital car parks, the mortuary, maternity and intensive treatment unit, which have all had additional enhanced lighting fitted to increase picture quality. These have been installed using Petards Vision’s Advantage.Net system, which enables callers to the hospital to have direct access to the new control room via ‘Help Point’ push buttons, while at the same time being able to be seen on screen by the centre controller who is able to pan, tilt and zoom in on any suspicious activity. The hospital system also allows Runnymede Borough Council’s control centre to remotely link to the hospital cameras, as a backup for the hospital’s control room.
The new hospital control room was opened this summer, and the high quality of images obtained will allow the hospital to present them in court if they are needed as evidence in criminal proceedings. Michael Williams, managing director of Petards Vision, said: “This installation is one of the most advanced among hospitals. It has tremendous potential and offers a very high ROI thanks to its capacity to be extended to other areas, such as Ashford hospital via CCTV.”
