Network cameras from Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, have been installed by Ely Telecom, working alongside Education ICT's server engineers to deliver a modern IP-Surveillance solution at Witchford Village College, near Ely.
This village secondary school, which serves 900 11-to-16-year-olds in this predominantly rural area, originally installed an analogue-based CCTV system covering the external areas around school buildings. However Witchford Village College was finding that this CCTV system was not preventing theft of high value IT equipment inside school buildings. The school now has more than £250,000 of IT equipment as well as a large amount of science and music equipment which has been targeted in the past.
Ely Telecom is an approved contractor of Education ICT which provides IT support for all schools in Cambridgeshire. Ely Telecom and Education ICT worked together to improve security inside school buildings in order to prevent damage and theft of IT equipment, reduce the risk of the school being broken into, and improve security on reception in working hours - notably to deter unauthorised visitors from entering the main building.
A total of 28 Axis network cameras, including both AXIS 211 Network Cameras and AXIS 207 Network Cameras, were installed by Ely Telecom throughout the ICT suites, library and key corridors and storage areas during the summer of 2007. The integrator also installed a four Terabyte server which provided space for 14 days storage of all network video images. The school is also considering deploying Axis video servers to bring the external CCTV cameras onto the network. Further network cameras are likely to be deployed in other areas containing high value equipment.
Since the IP-Surveillance system was completed in August 2007, the school has experienced no incidents of theft or vandalism. Images can be monitored from two PCs using AXIS Camera Station software. The school's site manager and two other authorised individuals are able to access these images. These individuals can gain access to the school's camera from any PC provided they have user name and password details.
Mr Jeremy Simmonds, IT manager, Witchford Village College, explained, "Now that the new network video system is installed it is much easier and quicker to reach images if we do need to review any incidents and we find the high image quality ensures that we can positively identify individuals concerned and email relevant video images if required to the authorities."
Mr Steve Gorski, managing director, Axis Communications (UK), added, "Witchford Village College, like many schools throughout the UK, is now able to compare the benefits of IP-Surveillance alongside traditional standalone CCTV systems. By looking at our network cameras' output, users can clearly see the improved image quality, as well as the ease of storage and data movement, as compared with the older CCTV-based technologies. Simultaneously the school has created greater flexibility to expand, upgrade and improve its surveillance systems as its needs change so it's effectively future-proofed its investment."
