University of Leeds opens new CCTV Control Room

17 Dec 09

Sir Norman Bettison, the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, has formally opened the University of Leeds’ new CCTV Control Room.

By Brian Sims

The upgraded surveillance capabilities are designed to protect staff, students and visitors across the campus.

Steven Exley, head of security at the University of Leeds, told SMT Online: “The purpose of security services at the university is to provide students, staff and visitors with a safe environment in which to study and work. Our security staff now have the benefit of the latest technology to help them protect our campus.”

The new CCTV system has been instigated on an incremental basis over the last month or so and, according to Exley, has already helped lead to the arrest of cycle thieves and burglars.

SGW Security Consulting managed the project, which required upgrading the majority of the university’s existing 67 cameras and a further 32 new cameras to provide effective coverage of key areas of operation.

A converged, IP-addressable image transmission system is linked to the university’s internal network with fully digital control and recording equipment. The Control Room furniture was supplied by Intech, the digital recording equipment coming courtesy of Synectics.

Refurbishment of the existing Control Room

The project also necessitated a total refurbishment of the existing Control Room, and a temporary Control Room was set up to ensure minimum disruption to security services.

Opening the facility, Sir Norman Bettison said: “The University of Leeds has a massive campus. It’s like a small town in itself. Given the daily population of 35,000 people and 572 buildings, the upgraded CCTV will be a very effective tool in reducing crime while at the same time improving confidence.”

The former police chief added: “It’s testament to the university’s commitment to make the campus a safe environment that the management has invested in a state-of-the-art digital CCTV system which will offer reassurance. If any crime does occur then the images rendered will be invaluable to the police in their investigation.”

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise showed the University of Leeds to be the UK’s eighth biggest research ‘powerhouse’. The university is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The management’s vision is to secure a place among the world’s Top 50 by 2015.

From design through to delivery

Simon Whitehouse – the managing director for SGW Security Consulting, who managed the project from design to delivery – also added his comments on the new Control Room.

“We’re extremely pleased to have been involved in such an important scheme, and are delighted that our partnership with the installation team at security system integrator TIS has ensured the system was completed on time and within budget.”

Note: The third picture on the right hand panel of this page shows the key people involved in the University of Leeds Control Room project. They are (from left to right): Peter Booth (md at Intech Furniture), Paul Cook (contracts director, TIS Mansfield, Simon Whitehouse (md, SGW Security Consulting), Sir Norman Bettison, Michael Arthur (vice-chancellor, University of Leeds), Carl Chippendale (consulting engineer, SGW Security Consulting), Steven Exley and Ewan Evans, technical systems engineer with Synectic Systems Group.