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Reflex installs CCTV cameras and switches to enhance security for Stockport Homes Group

Stockport Homes Group (SHG) are responsible for the management of the housing stock owned by Stockport Council. Formed in 2005 they operate as an ALMO so whilst the company is owned by Stockport Council, they operate independently in delivering services to their customers. SHG are Stockport’s largest landlord, managing over 12,000 properties as well as growing their own portfolio of new build properties and as an umbrella organisation the Group also encompasses Viaduct Housing, Three Sixty and Skylight. Meeting current demands SHG have invested heavily over recent years in their digital infrastructure for providing services and security on behalf of their clients. When Stockport Council recently reviewed their public space CCTV control facilities it became clear that this required modernisation and upgrading to meet current demands. SHG have invested heavily over recent years in their digital infrastructure for providing services Following the review, the obvious choice was to look at merging with the existing SHG control room based at their head office in Cornerstone. Reflex Systems were provided with an overview of the Clients requirements and tasked with developing this into a full system design to ensure that the project objectives were satisfied as well as providing the necessary infrastructure for future expansion and camera upgrades. Additional public space In a true partnership approach Reflex were tasked with fully upgrading the existing control room at Cornerstone to accommodate the additional public space CCTV operations and staff members. The existing public space control room was to be decommissioned and all existing systems migrated and seamlessly integrated into the new upgraded facility at Cornerstone. The systems to be migrated not only encompassed public space CCTV but also included alarm monitoring, third party CCTV monitoring as well as integration with other key stakeholders such as Stockport County FC who utilise CCTV images during events and match days. Reflex engaged with key suppliers, namely Dallmeier for the CCTV, Thinking Space for the control room furniture and Purdicom for the wireless network, in order to provide a full and robust system design whilst still offering best value and future expansion options to the Client. In a true partnership approach Reflex were tasked with fully upgrading the existing control room Existing control room The existing control room at Cornerstone was already responsible for monitoring over 1,500 cameras across the numerous estates and the public space cameras included an additional 118 cameras across various locations and nearby towns which required integrating. The decision was taken to expand the existing Dallmeier SeMSy system to include for additional recording servers as well as Clients and monitor wall servers. The existing analogue public space cameras were all encoded and then recorded on the new Dallmeier servers to provide seamless integration and operation within the existing system. Due to the age of some of the existing cameras; Reflex also had to install telemetry units capable of driving various third party protocols as well as upgrading some of the individual telemetry receiver boards at physical camera locations. Alarm monitoring systems The control room itself had a full re-design and upgrade in conjunction with Thinking Space As part of the project, existing third-party wireless links and fibres were also decommissioned with new Siklu wireless links being installed connecting certain areas back on to SHG’s private high level wireless network which would ultimately lead to cost savings for the Client. The control room itself had a full re-design and upgrade in conjunction with Thinking Space and benefitted from a new fourteen screen free standing monitor wall as well as three new consoles, one of which is fully heigh adjustable, to accommodate a total of six operators at any one time. Perhaps one of the greatest and most complex obstacles was integrating the numerous third-party CCTV and alarm monitoring systems into the new control room which was successfully achieved through detailed design, planning and working with other key stakeholders such as SHG’s operational staff, project management, IT services and other third parties. Provide uninterrupted services Reflex also installed Adder CCS-PRO8 KVM switches to ensure operators could utilise the numerous systems from a single keyboard and mouse seamlessly. Through close collaboration with the Client and key manufacturers, Reflex were able to design, implement and commission a fully operational control room upgrade and integration both on time and within budget whilst still ensuring full operation of the existing systems during the project to ensure SHG could continue to provide uninterrupted services to their Clients. Reflex were able to design, implement and commission a fully operational control room upgrade “Upgrading the CCTV Control Room facility at SHG, to allow for the merger of the Public Space network with the existing Housing Security Services, has been a complex and challenging project – but one which everyone involved in, is immensely proud of.” Providing essential evidence “The end result isn’t just a solution that is ‘fit for purpose’ – it is much more than that, and already the benefits are being felt by our key stakeholders. By bringing together Housing and Public Space CCTV teams under one roof and providing them with state-of-the-art systems and workspaces, we have created a dynamic and highly effective Control Room function that can deliver much more than the separate services were ever able to do independently.” “On a recent GMP force-wide operation the seamless integration of public space cameras into the SeMSy system meant CCTV Operators could instantly ‘switch’ between Housing and Public CCTV networks to track live incidents and provide essential evidence to the investigation team.” Colleagues from GMP praised the operational teams Public space cameras “Colleagues from GMP praised the operational teams and highlighted how the technology had been essential in them getting quicker and better outcomes, as the team had been able to use smart tools built into the system to drastically reduce the time spent searching for evidence.” “The teamwork, communication and commitment of the project team throughout has been the key to this project’s success and having a contractor / client relationship that’s based on sharing expertise and collaborating to get the very best solution has been critical to this. In every sense, this has been the ‘model’ project and we have discovered, learnt, debated, decided, tested and implemented as one team from start to finish.”

Reflex systems install upgraded camera technology and access control systems at Manchester Arena

New security and surveillance upgrades have been announced at Manchester Arena, with the first phase expected to be complete by mid-autumn. The system upgrade includes the installation of next generation camera technology combined with cutting-edge access control and is set to be rolled out ahead of a number of high-profile events that are being staged at the arena this autumn. Following the installation of the latest state-of-the-art security cameras, developments include super high definition 4K resolution images and enhanced video analytics with appearance search, plus self-learning analytics with presence/absence detection and the ability to detect unusual motion events. Similar effective solutions Reflex systems was chosen by SMG Europe having looked at similar effective solutions designed and installed by them at the award-winning Leeds The new facilities will also see an improvement in data management and delivery, and form part of an expanding security network which enables remote monitoring off-site at venues across the UK. The large-scale upgrade will be implemented by South Yorkshire-based firm Reflex Systems, a security system installer whose previous projects include providing deployable security systems for the G8 Summit, as well as work at off-park venues at the Olympics, Wimbledon, and Wembley Stadium. Reflex Systems will be leading on the Manchester Arena upgrades. The specialist firm was chosen by SMG Europe having looked at similar effective solutions designed and installed by them at the award-winning Leeds first direct Arena and other large capacity public venues. Intelligent video stream Lee Sinnott, senior facilities manager at SMG Europe, said: “The scope of the project was to deliver a powerful scalable end-to-end surveillance solution over an IP network, employing the latest HD/4K cameras, video analytics at the edge and through an intelligent video stream data management system.” Results allow us to actively monitor & effectively manage large crowds in differing light conditions both in real time and forensically “The challenge to find the right surveillance system with state-of-the-art technology that operates in a harsh light environment was realised through a detailed study and product testing with temporary camera deployments during Arena events. The results allow us to actively monitor & effectively manage large crowds in differing light conditions both in real time and forensically, post event. Providing video evidence of the highest quality was an important deliverable on the project.” Public venue applications “The planned installation of an expanded access control solution with system integration into the CCTV was a key part of the project. The electronic access control system will now provide us with the capability to respond to national threat levels and dynamically deploy a range of security measures through a powerful user interface.” John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, said: “Some of the technology involved in the upgrades at Manchester Arena is very new in terms of its features, and is a convergence of security with IT and advanced management software.” “We have significant experience in the area of public venue applications, and through our expertise and technology partners we deliver solutions which allow venue owners, whatever scale, to provide safer and more secure environments for everyone.”

Tyco access control and video surveillance increases perimeter security across Wakefield Grammar School, UK

The integrated security solution included exacqVision VMS, Illustra IP cameras and exacqVision NVRs  Tyco Security Products announced that Wakefield Grammar School Foundation in Yorkshire, England, has deployed an access control and video surveillance solution that will increase security across its five-school campus. Founded by Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 as the all-boys Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, the independent institution has a long history in England. The school foundation opened its all-girls school (Wakefield Girls’ High School) in 1878 and today, the school campus encompasses the boys’ and girls’ junior and senior schools, as well as Mulberry House Nursery for ages 3-4. Integrated perimeter security solution After determining that the organisation needed to expand its current security out to the perimeter, the prestigious campus installed an integrated security solution that includes an exacqVision video management system (VMS), Illustra dome and bullet IP cameras and exacqVision network video recorders (NVRs) with Kantech EntraPass access control software pre-installed. Coupled with the 3MP high-resolution Illustra mini-domes and bullet cameras and exacqVision VMS software, the school has a complete, seamless solution that excels in both daytime and nighttime surveillance. The exacqVision Kantech Onboard NVRs provide high-performance, all-in-one network video surveillance and access control on a single server. With the pre-installed, pre-licensed Kantech EntraPass access control software on the server, they save on hardware expenses and reduce the amount of rack space required. The versatile solution enables users to view live or recorded video directly from the recorder, or remotely using a Web browser or separate computer. Surveillance solution with built-in access control software “To enhance its perimeter security, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation chose an ideal solution for a campus environment that provides a surveillance solution with built-in access control software,” said Steven Ward, technical director, Reflex Systems. “This allows security staff to view and react to both surveillance and access control events in a single interface.” With its integration partner, Reflex Systems of South Yorkshire, England, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation chose a package that will allow the campus to continue to expand its security system into the future, including using mobile surveillance features and integrated access control.

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