As part of the park's original design specification in 1998, a security plan was implemented which included a purpose built security office and a dedicated CCTV system. As the park grew in popularity and expanded its customer base, the site's management group, Donaldson's, felt an upgrade to the system was necessary to take advantage of technological developments in surveillance technology; protecting the safety of its clientele as well as it's long term economic future.
Panasonic Premier Integrator, Reflex Systems of South Yorkshire, has significant expertise in this sector and is a long-term partner at other similar sites owned by Donaldson's, the management group of Sheffield Valley Centertainment. With this long-standing relationship, Reflex was an obvious choice to meet the owner's objective of better site management, achieved via a significantly upgraded high-performance surveillance system.
High-spec surveillance
After a comprehensive audit of the site, David Kynman and Steve Ward, Reflex's Group Sales Director and Projects Director (respectively), specified a Panasonic based solution to meet with Mike Jeffries' specific requirements.
To meet the objectives, Reflex installed Panasonic's WV-CW860 dome cameras throughout the site. The WV-CW860's integrated housing is specifically developed for ‘all weather' outdoor use, making this camera unit the ideal choice for exterior surveillance of the park.
The system's camera images are transmitted via coax cabling to an on-site control room. Manned 24 hours a day, it is equipped with Panasonic 17" colour monitors and a 16-channel digital recorder. Programmed to record 120 images per second, it allows operators to review crystal clear images of any incidents captured, making the identification of individuals involved an easier task. Video playback and review is controlled intuitively via a corresponding Panasonic WV-CU650CJ/B controller that also manages the system's WJ-SX150A camera switching matrix. The WV-CU650CJ/B controller was chosen for Valley Centertainment due to its busy control room environment.
The new system comprehensively covers the site's award-winning secure car park area comprising of parking for 1,200 cars, business units, (including their back of house service areas), a dedicated tram stop on Sheffield's SuperTram network, and arterial roadways, pubs and other industrial units surrounding the site.
Effective detection
Access to an effective surveillance system, tailor-made to their needs has proved invaluable to Mike and his Sheffield security team: "A successful public entertainment venue would require a vast amount of human resource without a high-performance CCTV surveillance system like ours." He continues, "When visiting a large scale entertainment venue like this, customers should never have the feeling that either themselves or their property are open to any kind of danger."
Invaluable asset
Utilising the surveillance ‘overview' Panasonic's CCTV system affords the security controllers and managers, Mike can use just five ‘on-foot' security guards to effectively cover the extensive leisure facility, even during its busiest periods. Mike concludes: "This system has proved invaluable for the management of Sheffield Valley Centertainment. The high-performance CCTV system can be the eyes and ears of a modern leisure complex like ours. It's like having an extra twenty ever-alert security personnel that never go home! Since the system went live, we haven't had a single instance of a break in, graffiti or vehicle theft - it's just not an issue anymore."
