New centralised CCTV control system will benefit local communities

Scottish Communications, the Perth-based security equipment specialist, has supplied and installed a new £400,000 CCTV control suite covering the Forth Valley area of central Scotland in a move that will bring significant costs efficiencies and greatly improve operational performance.

The state-of-the-art centralised system – believed to be one of the first of its type in Europe - brings all CCTV monitoring in the Forth Valley under one roof. The project was instigated under the auspices of the Forth Valley CCTV Partnership, which comprises of Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, and Central Scotland Police.

According to Andrew Cameron, Central Scotland Police Chief Constable, the control system will bring immense benefits to communities throughout the region.

“This system offers endless potential and is right at the forefront of technology. It will contribute to community safety and bring increased confidence for new investment into the Forth Valley area,” he said.

“This is a good example of community planning at work and will make a big difference to people’s lives in the region.”

Located in Alloa, the control suite brings operational improvements by ensuring that all monitoring is carried out from one single location, rather than from four different sites as was previously the case.

Using the latest technology developed by Swiss-based specialists FAST, the system provides high quality digital format recorded images from all 191 CCTV cameras across the region.

These pictures can be instantly retrieved by officers based in the control room, and then distributed out for analysis to the required police stations within seconds, and then if required onward to court for prosecution. Previously, the retrieval of crucial images could be both time-consuming and laborious.

Scottish Communications worked closely with Scottish-based Sigma Group – the UK distributor for FAST – in the design of the system, which utilises advanced Digital Video Archiving Technology. As well as supplying and installing the equipment, Scottish Communications will provide a five-year maintenance package for the control room.

“This is one of the most technically advanced control rooms in Europe and we’re delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious project,” said Paul Gibson, managing director of Scottish Communications.

“The centralised control suite will assist the Forth Valley CCTV Partnership to make best use of their CCTV systems and benefit from up-to-date technology that will widen the range of potential applications.”

In addition to providing CCTV coverage for individual localised incidents, the integrated nature of the system means that it can cover rolling events on a much larger scale, ranging from traffic problems to serious crime.

Meanwhile, in a separate project for Central Scotland Police, Scottish Communications supplied and installed a CCTV system for the main police custody suite in Falkirk. The installation, which also uses FAST technology and complies with new Association of Police Officer (ACPO) regulations, consists of a multi-camera and sound recording system that will provide protection and other benefits to all parties in the custody area.

For further information contact: enquiries@scssecuritydesign.com