Animal welfare charity fitted with CCTV solution

Set up in north London in 1924, Wood Green Animal Shelter’s portfolio includes a 52-acre farm in Godmanchester – which is used as its headquarters. The charity, which also operates a visitors’ centre from its farm, currently re-homes more than 5,000 animals every year.

The updated system was also set up to monitor the animals’ enclosures in case of theft as well as track visitors and traffic. It was selected by installers Silas Group and bought through Norbain.

Equipped for the job

A total of 16 Vista’s fully functional PowerDomes have been positioned around the site to monitor the entrances and exits, along with the perimeters, dog re-homing compound and plant and machinery areas. The cameras have been wired back to a control room which is permanently manned and houses a DM 16-way DVR. All footage can be viewed on the four Samsung monitors , three showing the main entrances and exits and a fourth set to a split screen and tracking images around the site.

Darren Gibbons, group managing director of Silas said of the solution: “Initially, the cameras had been set-up using coax cable, but the distances are just too great for this to be an effective solution.

“Once we’d done a site survey, we suggested that this be updated with Cat 5/6 cable with baluns to boost the signal and significantly improve picture quality.”

Speaking about the challenges posed by a multi-purpose CCTV solution, Gibbons said: “The charity wanted to have a camera for general viewing, plus another to capture the number plates of all vehicles entering the compound, but had been told this wasn’t possible with the single-cable set-up. We consulted with Norbain and agreed that a duplexing device would allow two signals to be carried down the same cable and separated at the other end.”

But according to Gibbons, the main challenge the installers faced was the modification of the solution already in place. “We’ve ensured that the client is getting exactly the system they initially required, without the expense of replacing the equipment,” he said.

“They had already invested heavily in the system, and the technology in place was ideal for the job, so we saw no need to make any changes. Instead, the charity staff has now been fully trained to use the kit and everything has been optimised for the most effective performance possible.”

A happy solution

Tom O’Connell, security manager for Wood Green said the solution has been successful.

“Since the cameras have been installed, we’ve seen a 100% reduction in animals abandoned at the front gates.

Security of staff is another key application, O’Connell said. “Prior to the installation there had been an assault on a member of staff, along with some thefts and intrusions. Thankfully, these sorts of instances have now been wiped out, making it a much safer and secure site for all involved.”

Following the installation the charity is now a part of the Countryside Watch Scheme.