CCTVImage | Rooms with a View
Cofnodi ar gamera CCTV 2 (Caught on camera 2)
In the continuation of our feature about Welsh CCTV systems from last issue, CCTV User Group director Peter Fry visits four more control rooms and concludes that the public space systems are finding ways to innovate in difficult economic times, a hopeful sign for the industry.
BACK IN OCTOBER last year Debbie and I packed our bags for a 800-mile trip round Wales. No it was not a holiday trip, but as it had been so long since vis- iting some of the Welsh CCTV systems, and having heard of many interesting improvements that had been undertaken, it was our opportunity to get up to date, see what was happening in other Welsh systems and meet our members. In
the previous issue of
CCTV Image, we visited four systems: the North Wales Police Joint Control Centre, the Gwynedd County CCTV sys- tem, the Neath and Port Talbot CCTV system and the Bridgend County CCTV system.
In this issue, we report on our
last four visits, each site with a unique story to tell.
Caerphilly County
The Caerphilly CCTV system opened in April 1998 with 11 cameras covering the local authority area. Today it monitors 144 cameras, cover- ing 25 towns and villages. It has enjoyed NSI accreditation since 2004 and has been a member of the User group for a decade. Like Bridgend, the control room is also located in a council depot, and
apart from the video wall and workstations also provides a review suite and a supervisor’s desk.
It was great to meet Carl Nesling and some of the six full-time and seven part-time operators, five of whom had been there since 1998. It was unfortunate we were unable to meet Kathryn Peters, the community
safety manager, due to another engagement, as the council has made a large investment in community safety, funded by reserves. The system was upgraded to digital using Synectics Synergy Pro in 2007 and the video wall in November 2011. The next upgrade targets on the list include replacing 90 per cent of the 60 Shawley ‘shoebox’ cam- eras. In addition, having had the experience of the Metal Mickey 300, 400 and 500 cameras, Caerphilly are trialling the 550 model with Bosch. Twelve of the camera positions also have audio to enable the control room to make public announcements and, if appropriate, verbal warnings to the perpetrators of any fights or anti-social activity. Another task they freely undertake is to keep an eye on cash in transit collections and deliveries, something promoted by G4S for several years. They also monitor the help points at one of the main bus stations and operate three StoreNet radio systems. Most of the system is based on fibre-optic, with our old friend Redvers Hocken as the consultant and Quadrant providing the maintenance. The control room also manages the council’s out-of-hours call service, handling 9000 to 10,000 calls per year.
Following the trend which is apparent in Wales with the multifunc- tional approach, Caerphilly also monitors intruders at 82 alarm-activated sites, including schools and depots using the dial-up ADPRO system. Not many systems have considered this, but it is well worth looking into, as whilst all the rest of the system is council funded, the monitoring is an external income. Partnership working with the police is good, along with all other agen- cies that form part of the Safer Caerphilly County Borough Partnership. Caerphilly also monitors a significant range of performance indicators to highlight the work of the control room. Feedback with regards to incidents is a difficult process for all control rooms, but Caerphilly does receive information from the CPS on cases that have gone to court and resulted in judgements being passed.
Carl Nesling, Caerphilly County control room Issue sponsor
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Spring 2013 17
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