Taking stock of security

In the company's experience, stand-alone CCTV systems had been "a waste of time".

It decided to review the most effective method of improving its security arrangements and selected in-house remote video monitoring as the most effective solution. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in losses in a short space of time.

Travis Perkins has been in business for more than 50 years and generated a turnover of £874 million in 1999. Together with the recently acquired Keyline Group, it now consists of more than 460 outlets, with over 7,000 employees. More than 60 per cent of the company's stock is stored outside and, as most of this is also unbranded, the company was particularly vulnerable to theft.

Watching thieves at work

Prior to installing remote video monitoring, losses were estimated to be about 2 per cent of turnover, with incidences of intrusion at an unacceptable level.

Previously, the group had attempted to reduce these losses via a combination of electric pulse fencing and security/gate guards, although out-of-hours the outlets were completely unmanned. The results were unsatisfactory as Derek Turrall, Travis Perkins' Northern Regional Security Manager, points out: "In our experience, individual stand alone CCTV systems were a complete waste of time – all we would see on a VCR were pictures of people stealing our stock!"

After a learning curve of experimentation with different security systems in the south-east and northern regions and a variety of third party monitoring stations, the group decided to install sophisticated remote CCTV surveillance systems throughout its branch network. These would be linked by ISDN to a dedicated in-house central monitoring unit located at its head office in Northampton. Turrall explains: "We looked at various alternatives and decided that we should adopt CCTV with central monitoring."

More than 100 sites

With support from the Travis Perkins Trading Board, the company became the first builders merchant in the UK to take the route of installing remote CCTV linked to a dedicated, in-house central monitoring station. Stockport was selected as the first branch to be fitted with the CCTV system and, due to the success of the first 15 outlets, the number of sites now fitted with remote CCTV has grown to over 100, with more due for completion this year.

Well known for their CCTV and access control engineering and 'solutions provider' expertise, Quadrant Video Systems plc and Ace Security Systems were the companies selected to install and service Travis Perkins' requirements. Both Quadrant and Ace matched the Group's requirements for a medium-sized installer with good geographical coverage. Travis Perkins' company policy is to buy equipment outright and it has retained Quadrant's services via an ongoing maintenance agreement.

Within a very short time-span, Travis Perkins has become impressed with the results. "We have seen a significant reduction in stock loss at some sites and actually reversed the trend of loss," says Turrall. "The system is expected to have paid for itself in less than three years."

Rapid direct audio

Once connected, each Travis Perkins outlet includes a mixture of fully functional pan, tilt and zoom cameras, a Public Address (PA) facility and camera ID for clients' entry, together with a number of fixed cameras targeted on specific locations. Areas identified as being particularly vulnerable are also covered with infrared beam detection and security lighting. Video monitors, a timelapse VCR with 24-hour recording mode and a 31-day rotation system of tapes, which are kept in a secure cabinet, complete the 'on-site' system.

There are two principal modes of operation adopted by Travis Perkins:

During the day, the system operates as a management and preventative tool. A monitor located in each manager's office supports a variety of management tasks. These include helping to deter and catch shoplifters and ensuring the correct observance of Health and Safety working practices. With the assistance of an integrated PA system, managers can employ rapid direct audio communication throughout their outlets. Using this set-up, video tapes have already been used as deciding evidence in relation to shoplifting offences 'caught in the act'.

At night and at weekends, the system becomes a pro-active CCTV security system linked to the in-house central monitoring station. The last person to leave the site is responsible for setting the alarms, which include multiple infrared sensor beams linked to specific fixed cameras and connection of the site by ISDN to the central monitoring system.

Every police call 'verified'

If an intruder enters the site, one of a network of protective sensor beams will be broken, initialising an 'on alarm dial-up' to the monitoring station. This alarm event also triggers pre-set scene positioning of the adjacent CCTV camera, to relay the appropriate live images back to the central monitoring station. The operator can then immediately assess the incident and decide on an appropriate course of action.

This might range from activating a public address broadcast of a pre-recorded message asking the intruder to 'leave the premises', or directly addressing the intruder, to calling the police.

Triggering the alarm immediately brings up a map of the relevant site on a PC, at the central monitoring station. The map shows the exact layout of the site in question and the position of north. This is used to great effect to direct the police around the site and guide them to the precise location where an intruder is present.

As a result of the installation of remote CCTV, every call to the police is a verified intruder alarm.

Should the internal alarm be triggered, the key holder has the added security of being able to contact the monitoring station on his way to the site. The operator can then check the site and follow the key holders' movements from arrival, until he is satisfied the site has been secured.

Fires detected, too

The fully functional cameras have the additional benefit of being able to track intruders some distance off-site, as intruders in the Sheffield region discovered recently when they tried to hide in a nearby compound. They were unaware that, via the remote CCTV, they were still in visual range, and with the assistance of the central monitoring operator, the local police were led straight to them.

On one occasion, the system proved its worth beyond that of crime prevention, when it was used to detect a fire before it got out of hand.

In future, Travis Perkins sites identified as being most at risk will be selected for installation of the CCTV system. The average time taken to install a new system is between five to ten days. The equipment installed is expected to have an operational life of at least seven years.

Derek Turrall sums up his feelings: "We have been extremely satisfied with the quality of the images and the results we have achieved. The benefits have already been recognised as proving the effectiveness of this system through the arrest of intruders and the reduction of stock loss.

"Travis Perkins will continue to install remote CCTV systems where the Regional Security Managers believe this will have a significant impact on theft."