On the Case

Access to gardens

Five secure, controlled entrance gates enable residents of an exclusive square in London’s Mayfair to enjoy access to their beautiful communal gardens.

To ensure only bone-fide residents can access the gardens, Intellikey Gate Locks have been installed. They feature stand-alone operation, audit trail information and access control by user, time, date and location.

The Gate Lock, operated by a standard intelligent key, is added to an existing Intellikey system or provides a stand-alone secure alternative to padlocks on gates or site perimeters. No mains power supply or data cabling is needed, offering significant installation savings.

Core … that’s quick!

Kent and Sussex Security has installed a CCTV system at Hayes School, Bromley, Kent, that took much less time to complete because they used multi-core cable (20 cores) as opposed to one co-axial cable per camera.

Ashford-based KSS said the installation was “much simpler and faster” because the NVT cable could be tapped into from any point, making it easier to install additional cameras in the future.

Phase one was installed two years ago and increased the cameras to 16 linked to an operations room. Now KSS have completed phase two with ten more colour cameras covering internal and external areas. One static view of the main entrance gate is beamed to the main building with a line of sight transmitter rather than cables because of the distance involved.

Pictures are controlled and recorded on two TeleEye digital recorders that are linked together and connected to the school’s computer network. The system also has seven Quad units allowing 26 cameras to be viewed at the same time. Selected staff can view images from their own work area and pan and zoom using their own computers.

Director of KSS, John Jameson, said the system has already enabled a number of incidents to be resolved.

Express delivery

Gillingham based Hochiki Europe are upgrading convenience and petrol retailing outlets, Tesco Express, with new fire detection systems.

The stores are getting the latest analogue addressable technology. To date, over 80 ‘Express’ stores are protected. A typical installation includes ESP photoelectric analogue addressable smoke sensors incorporating ‘High Performance Optical Technology’, zone-monitoring input/output modules, base sounders and manual call points; with each system supported by a Kentec Solo control panel. Completion of hundreds of further installations for Tesco Express is scheduled within the next few years.

Vandalism reduced at school

Durham-based Tates Security Services has installed a digital CCTV system at one of the UK’s largest schools and adult learning centres, significantly reducing vandalism and improving security.

Analogue VCRs have been replaced with DVRs at Kenton School, Newcastle , and new vandal resistant cameras and external mobile domes have been fitted.

Norbain SD supplied the equipment for the school, which has grown into a sprawling campus, with 2,000 pupils and 3,500 adults regularly on site.

Tates, an installer with strong digital credentials and a hands-on approach to technical support, used the upgrade to replace some of the existing cameras and adjust the positioning of others for optimum performance.

The final mix includes 28 internal and external cameras. The internal cameras include ten Vista vandal resistant cameras, while outside there are five Pelco Spectra 3 mobile domes and a variety of pre-existing static cameras and mobile domes.

Four existing VCR recorders and multiplexers were replaced with two Dedicated Micros Digital Sprite DS2 digital video recorders (320GB). CD writers allow incidents to be downloaded to portable media. Vista monitors within the site manager’s office and the security cabin at the main gate allow staff to view images. DM’s Network Viewer software also enables staff to view images on their desktop PCs.

Jeff Tate, founder of Tates Security, said calls per week have reduced significantly with the improvements made to the overall security and he praised Norbain’s technical support in the project.

Discreet system protects club

Viscount Alarm Systems were presented with a challenge when the Royal Automobile Club needed a CCTV system that would monitor their members’ safety while still being unobtrusive.

The prestigious club, situated in London’s Pall Mall, has 100 year’s tradition and is listed by English Heritage, so careful consideration had to be given to ensure that it complied with a multitude of regulations.

Viscount Alarms Systems Design Engineer, Paul Mckenzie said, “We looked for a camera that was compact in size and aesthetically acceptable to the customer but at the same time had the functionality to deliver high quality images.”

He recommend Sanyo’s XZ-400P 520 TV lines cameras which, because of their compact size, meant that Class A planning permission was not required and the built in zoom lens would allow close up surveillance between the front of the building and the edge of the pavement.

The weather proof housings had been sprayed black to ensure they blended in with the building.

Covert camera catches diesel theft

Certainty Group Security Services installed a CCTV system which solved the recurrent problem of diesel theft at a warehouse site.

Snowie Group, a logistics and storage company, suffered the problem at its distribution centre in Grangemouth, close to the M9.

The Certainty Group recommended and installed a combined solution of static and covert cameras to cover the loading area. Two static cameras positioned at a high point give an overview of activity in the loading area while movements inside the warehouse are covered by internal static cameras. A high resolution covert camera with built in microphone was positioned in a portable radio to capture activities in the loading bay, which the perpetrator thought were out of range of the cameras.

Andrew Marchant, Sales and Marketing Director of the Certainty Group said: “This small camera was a powerful tool, since it could be repositioned at any time without drawing anyone’s attention to the fact that they were under 24 hour surveillance. It also allowed for coverage of a virtually unlimited area over a period of time without the need for the installation of additional cameras”.

A radio signal transmitted high quality video and audio signals from the loading bay to the control room. Certainty Group also installed a number of Sanyo digital video recorders.

In a short space of time, given the weight of evidence, the police were able to secure a conviction, sending out a strong message to any future opportunists.

Access to research labs

AccessIT Systems Ltd, based in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, has announced the successful completion of a major integrated security system for TRL (Transport Research Laboratory).

TRL, which provides world-class research, advice and solutions for all issues relating to transport, is most famously known for its role in vehicle crash testing.

TRL needed to expand while remaining close to their 2.8 kilometre research track, so a 60,000 sq ft facility, including offices and labs, was built in the middle of the track.

The system consists of more than 80 proximity card readers linked to AccessIT’s own visitor management software, providing access control to a range of doors, cantilever gates, road barriers and pedestrian speed stiles. An intruder alarm system protects the complex together with a digital CCTV system networked around the site and its perimeter, together with more than one kilometre of perimeter fencing and 300 metres of high security fencing to the rear of the building

Close working with council

Quadrant Video Systems have supplied an upgrade for the CCTV system that covers Stevenage and the surrounding North Hertfordshire towns of Hitchin, Letchworth, Hertford, Baldock and Royston.

The upgrade for Stevenage Borough Council consists of 17 additional colour cameras and a Vigilant digital recording system. The scheme’s 139 cameras are recorded for a period of 28 days and fast access is provided to evidential video material. The review and downloading of images is conducted in a separate video evidence suite, manned by a permanently assigned police officer.

Quadrant was awarded a three-year maintenance contract including regular management meetings and a dedicated engineer on site. It has developed a close working relationship with the council, one that is adding value to the operation of the scheme.

ANPR cameras ‘ring’ Stevenage, acting as a highly effective tool for the detection of car related crime and the detection of known criminals. Linked to a local, or Police National Computer databases, the system has the ability to spot vehicles with no tax, that are reported as stolen, or those known to belong to drug dealers, etc.

The Stevenage CCTV scheme is now responsible for generating large amounts of valuable video evidence, with as many as 1 in 5 reported cases being identified and reported by the CCTV control room operators.

Captured CCTV footage has recently been used to provide evidence in major incidents including the conviction of a local man for the rape of a 16 year old girl.