Networked solution solves market town s security issues

Transcription

1 CCTV Wi-Fi case study Networked solution solves market town s security issues Call us today on or visit

2 Business situation Diss is a picturesque market town in the Waveney Valley. Bordering the Mere - one of the deepest natural inland lakes in the country - the town comprises of beautiful timber framed buildings dating from the 16th century. The market in the centre of Diss has run for over 500 years. Diss has a population of around 7,000 although the town also serves a rural catchment area of approximately 40,000 people. Local people had raised concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) at local town council meetings, especially after a spate of criminal damage and thefts targeting businesses in the Diss area. By April 2011, reported anti-social behaviour had reached its highest levels of 82 incidences a month. A networked IP surveillance system was the leading solution, as Diss had never had CCTV installed, although the local village of Wymondham has had a small system in place since The local press had picked up on these concerns and ran a story to cover the possibility of the council installing a networked system in the town centre. Stephen Fenby, Managing Director at Midwich, read the article and contacted South Norfolk Council to offer business expertise and advice. A meeting between Ben Perkins, Sales Manager of the security division of Midwich, the council and the local Police Constable was arranged to discuss expectations, how the system would be used and possible coverage areas for the town. Additional applications for the wireless transmission were proposed by Ben Perkins, altering the original objective of the project to also encompass wireless hotspots, which would prove to be more of an advantage for the locals and general public visiting the town. Wireless hotspots would also add an extra revenue stream for the project to either charge local businesses for advertising space, or for the public to pay for internet access. This project was to adopt a transparent approach to ensure members of the public felt included, were informed about any developments or delays and any anxieties regarding the purpose or use of the CCTV system were answered quickly. Public support for networked IP surveillance had been mixed, with challenging perceptions of who was paying for the installation and project. The goal was to create a sustainable solution that the community wanted. The aim of the CCTV cameras is to reduce crime by deterring criminals, reducing the fear of crime to local businesses and members of the public and to create a secure retail environment by identify offenders. 68% of smartphone users in the UK access social networking sites daily on their phones and 48% read news online. Samsung cameras capture pin-sharp, high resolution images in both day and night conditions 7 Ofcom Consumer Research September research/cmr/cmr13/icmr/5_web.pdf

3 Stakeholder profiles Local businesses in Diss identified the Community Interest Company (CIC) in April 2012 to help fund and run the cameras, overseen by the Council and Norfolk Constabulary. South Norfolk CCTV group is made up of representatives from Wymondham Town Council, Diss Town Council and local businesses from Diss and Wymondham. It is an organised group, supported by South Norfolk Council and Norfolk Police. The group was set up in 2013 after consultation with local people and businesses about CCTV, to help manage and maintain the CCTV and Wi-Fi system. CSI Solution Ltd, based in Norwich, founded on the idea of Combined Security Integration, are specialists in IP based CCTV systems with over 30 years experience, committed to their policy of sourcing and supplying environmentally and economically sound products. The surveillance network allows for 24/7 monitoring of the town s carparks SilverNet designs and manufactures high performance outdoor and indoor wireless network equipment and high speed mesh solutions. Midwich is the UK s leading trade only distributor of specialist technology, offering customers complete solutions from concept to completion. Midwich united the above companies to work together on this networked IP surveillance system. In a survey of 2,000 people run by the CCTV User Group 71% stated the purpose of CCTV should be to spot crimes as they happen and 86% of people are now strongly supporting public space surveillance. 5 Security News desk article com/2014/05/13/cctv-enjoys-86-public-support-call-better-monitoringinformation/

4 Technical solution The UK s first public space CCTV system was installed in Kings Lynn in Before the tender process for the project started, Midwich s Ben Perkins surveyed the town for South Norfolk Council and advised on a design and product specification. It was from this information that the project went out to tender to three companies. Midwich was involved in the tender process from March 2011, supporting the CSI Solution pitch. A date was set for the first meeting where initial ideas were presented to the Council and members of Norfolk Constabulary which included a live demonstration of the innovative, mobile Rapid Deployment System cameras, which can provide visual deterrents and full environment detection. The town s parks and public places benefit from quality image surveillance around the clock June 2012 saw the process of elimination down to two final companies, whereby a further demonstration was required. Paul Macrow, Director at CSI Solution explains: We decided to use one of our RDS 9 Rapid Deployment units and filmed day and night for 10 days. This gave us all the information we required for the types of camera we would use, how high we needed to mount the cameras and the lighting required. From this test footage we then started to survey the towns, along with Midwich, to come up with the equipment fit for the installation. Deciphering the technicalities and equipment kit for installation was top priority. Samsung Techwin held the key for CSI Solution, due to an existing Samsung project performing faultlessly two years prior. A basic Wi-Fi infrastructure was crucial as both Diss and Wymondham receive little 3G coverage for this type of network transmission, nor was a running cable system an option due to very high civil costs. CCTV has been used in London since as early as the coronation ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth II in Wood, David M., ed. A Report of the Surveillance Society. Surveillance Studies Network. September uk/upload/documents/library/data protection/practical application/ surveillance society full report 2006.pdf, p. 19. SilverNet came on-board to visit the town and carry out a thorough Wi-Fi site survey with representatives from CSI Solution and Midwich. SilverNet s Wi-Fi MESH Connect2 radios, a new product, and their MICRO 95 Point-to-Point links were deployed giving multiple internet connection points with improved performance over competitors products, using advanced data pocket routing protocols along with multiple upload internet connection points, which improves uptime and performance of the CCTV mobile network and provides a secure wireless network to transmit CCTV images. After two further demonstrations, the contract was awarded to the Midwich CSI Solution SilverNet team in November 2012 for their comprehensive proposal.

5 Concerns were raised about the impact of modern equipment being bolted to listed buildings and the general aesthetics of keeping the heritage of the towns whilst moving them forward in terms of security and safety. Paul Macrow, Director at CSI Solution Ltd added: We had to scale draw every piece of equipment and implant it onto pictures of the proposed locations until we could all reach an agreement. This took almost a year to be passed. Installation time finally came nearly 3 years from starting the process and we couldn t wait to get started! Commissioning and installation of the equipment started at the end of March 2014 with all companies allocated one week to fix the equipment and by the end of the allocated time the Wi-Fi network and nine cameras across the town from the Market Place to the Mere s mouth were fully up and running on time and on budget. Midwich has remained involved throughout all stages of the project, hosting meetings at the Diss offices, time on site and facilitating training. Midwich also provided support in product pricing to keep the costs down for the project. The solution is now being used primarily to help tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce crime and disorder in the local area. Benefits and outcomes The project has meant different elements of the community working together, on the understanding that partnerships can achieve more. The system is now linked to South Norfolk Council and Norfolk Constabulary, with Wi- Fi hotspots around the town to enable Police patrol vehicles to login in to the system whilst on the move. The added benefit of the wireless network is free public access to the internet via a portable device, giving local businesses an additional advertising medium and increasing the public appeal of shopping in the town centre. Additionally, the cost and disruption of a cabled fibre network was avoided. Also, businesses can utilise the system by buying their own cameras and connecting to the existing network, making it cheaper for the individual business and enhancing a more robust security surveillance system in Diss and beyond. The installation of a networked IP surveillance system is part of the bigger picture of encouraging a more vibrant and sustainable town centre. The system has brought Wi-Fi to the town, enabling more residents and visitors to log on, see what the town has to offer and develop a greater positive experience, leading to higher footfall and prospering perception of the town. The CCTV system will also monitor people flow around the town; see what directions customers take, so future signage plans can fit the usual pattern of customers within the town. Next up is installation of the Wi-Fi and CCTV network in Wymondham, 12 miles south of Norwich, in July 2014 and rolling out across Norfolk starting with Harleston market town which has been surveyed for the same type of system. The CCTV system has made a positive contribution to security and safety. Since the networked IP surveillance system went live, antisocial behaviour in particularly has reduced by 35%.

6 It is predicted networked IP surveillance in Diss town centre will save the Police up to 56,254 per annum. 6 cctv_plan_latest_1_ , Eastern Daily Press, 28 November 2011 Summary of products and services used 5 x SNO-5080R HD bullet camera with built in IR Monitors the high-street and shops 1 x SNP-6200RH Full HD functional dome with built in IR Monitors the park, play area, car park 1 x SRN-1000 Network digital recorder Recorder for all the images 1 x SMT LED CCTV LFD Main control room screen 3 x GS2200/8HP Hi power PoE network switch Manages the network connections of all components 5 x MESHC2EXT External wireless Mesh network node Creates the wireless connection of devices and creates the public Wi-Fi 1 x MICROPCP Point to point wireless network connection Long range connection for the camera by the play area Call us today on or visit E&OE. Copyright Midwich Limited Midwich Limited, Vinces Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4YT. Job Number: LM6276-Q3-14