Strata Build Relationship with CCTV Surveillance
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CCTV Surveillance Case Study: Strata Homes
Doncaster-based Strata Homes Ltd is a contemporary developer of premium houses and apartments in Yorkshire and the Midlands. The firm employs 150 people across its multiple sites, with around 75 in its homes division. Contracts manager Stuart Alderson explained why the company employed the services of CCTV Surveillance: “Building on brown field and run-down sites in the Midlands, we knew there would be security issues,” he said.
In this case the system of CCTV cameras was a ‘legacy’ or ‘follow-through’ project, where CCTV Surveillance took over the set-up from a previous company, so there was no tender process whereby quotes were sought from competitor firms. CCTV Surveillance has installed equipment at Strata’s different sites from 2006 onwards, and the firm installs and maintains a huge portfolio of high evidence quality digital CCTV camera and recording systems. We only use the best quality products from the most well-known and regarded manufacturers.
On what he likes most about the system he said: “The CCTV footage goes onto a hard drive, so you can sift through what’s been happening and you can instantly review what’s going on, so that if there is a problem, you can call the police.”
Various Strata staff had training on individual sites with the equipment, and Mr Alderson gave his verdict to the CCTV Surveillance reporter about the training: “It was very good,” he added that he thinks Strata uses the surveillance system to its full potential and that the system is “relatively easy” to use.
If there was a way for CCTV Surveillance to improve its service to Strata, he replied: “Reducing the cost of getting the guys out on site. A wireless system is needed for a housing development: a hard-wired system is not the most flexible on housing sites, where you need to move people around very quickly. It’s a pain to move the cameras.”
To sum up CCTV Surveillance, Mr Alderson commented: “On an operational level, I’ve not had a problem. At a site level, it’s been very good. The connection with your team and installation engineer Jon-Paul Anderson has been very good.”
Wholesale cuts to budgets could damage forces’ ability in England and Wales to fight crime, says a new analysis of the future of policing. A "total redesign" of how officers work could save 12%, but further cuts would hit police availability, said the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Denis O’Connor. He added: "We are today challenging the police, managers and politicians who make strategic decisions about the future of policing in England and Wales, to use our reports to examine their choices thoroughly so that the public’s safety and well-being are not put at risk."
Because of concerns over imminent budget cuts, some police forces have stopped taking on new officers, which has prompted concern over rising crime levels. For instance Umar Hussain, finance director for South Wales Police, said the force was continuing to recruit officers to fill vacancies with an intake due in August and September. "There is, however, a moratorium on police staff posts to help plan for the impending budget cuts announcement due in October 2010." He added: "We are carefully monitoring the situation and will need to make further judgements once the extent of cuts are known."
The Con-Lib coalition is expected to "further regulate" the use of closed circuit television cameras and to cut back on their use. However, one MP, Ian Lucas, said he wants the Government to shed more light on its proposals. He said: "Police revealed earlier this year that since Wrexham’s CCTV system was set up, it has led to almost 21,000 arrests. But the Government nationally is pledging ‘we will further regulate CCTV’. It would be a terrible shame if a successful CCTV scheme which is playing a leading role in tackling crime locally were to become the victim of politically-motivated red tape."
If community and police resources are cut to the bone during the recession this could damage communities, said Professor Martin Innes. He has been commissioned by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to work alongside Ipsos MORI to develop a new framework to help police forces respond more effectively to acts of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). He said: “If anything, work to tackle anti-social behaviour has been given extra urgency by the recession. Our research shows that a failure to tackle ASB can have potentially serious impacts upon the long-term economic and social well-being of communities.”
Police are warning against people leaving doors and windows open during the heat wave as it is causing burglaries to soar. Detective Inspector Nigel Oliver, who leads Portsmouth’s burglary investigation team, pointed out that in the vast majority of cases the thief was able to get through a door or window that had been left unlocked or open. In one instance a thief went through the back of a home which was left unlocked, stole a mobile phone and a wallet and a purse containing bank cards and a slip of paper with the PIN written on it. Later on, money had been withdrawn from the bank account.
One of Britain’s most senior police officers warned there will be fewer police patrolling the streets following predicted cuts of a quarter in the Home Office budget. "Some services will have to be reduced. We have to make sure the building blocks of British policing – the local police service providing to local communities – is maintained but we also have to share the cake out, if you like, around the national and international responsibilities," said Sir Hugh Orde, interviewed on the Today programme. He added: "Until we see the CSR (comprehensive spending review) results it is very hard to predict.”
CCTV footage will have a role to play in the case of a football supporter accused of trespassing after he entered England’s dressing room at the World Cup. Pavlos Joseph appeared at a special World Cup court in Cape Town. His solicitor, Craig Webster, requested the adjournment because the defence team was still awaiting CCTV footage from the stadium on the night of England’s 0-0 draw against Algeria. Webster asked the magistrate Aziz Hamied to postpone the case a few days, after which he expected to be in possession of the footage.
Digital CCTV comprises a PC based, multi channel video surveillance system that utilises the most advanced compression technologies to bring you the highest picture quality and video performance. As well as providing you with the best available equipment, we at