Powys County Council  (Photo by Norbain)

Powys County Council, the U.K., has comprehensively upgraded its security systems at depots around the county in order to discourage trespass and theft.  With the installation of Vista ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras and Dedicated Micros DVRs, all vehicles can now be recorded entering and leaving the site, providing the police with valuable information should an incident occur.

The Council is a Welsh Unitary Authority responsible for all local government services in the county.  It has a huge impact on the local economy, both by being its largest employer and by spending more than half of its ￡300 million turnover within the county’s boundaries.

Powys is an extensive, largely upland and extremely rural county covering 2,000 square miles.  Being such a large county, the depots used to store vehicles and equipment are often in relatively isolated locations and, although crime is reasonably low in the area, this left them vulnerable to break-in and theft.  Tim Madeley, Electrical Technician at Powys County Council, had the responsibility of finding a solution.

Employees on the sites had noticed an increase in unidentified vehicles coming onto the premises with no apparent purpose.  Concerned that these vehicles may be scoping out the area, installers Security Wise Ltd were brought in to fit Vista ANPR cameras (VNPRC25) at all the main sites.  These cameras allow workers to keep an eye on all unknown vehicles.  If they are suspicious, they can check the footage and take note of the registration numbers.  Dedicated Micros (DM) DVRs are used to record and archive all images to DVD.

For Security Wise, there was no question as to whom they would use to supply the CCTV equipment.  “We’ve been using Norbain for many years and are continually impressed by their level of technical support and by their delivery times,” says Bob Keen, Operations Manager.  “We know we can always rely on them to get us the equipment that’s needed, when it’s needed.  You can’t ask for more than that from a supplier.”

During the past year that the systems have been operational, Mr. Madeley is happy to say that there has been a significant reduction in incidents of theft and trespass.  “I believe that the cost incurred with the installation of these systems will be offset by the reduction in criminal incidents,” he concludes.

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

ⓒ2007 www.SecurityWorldMag.com. All rights reserved.