"Although personal assaults are actually decreasing in the area," stated Inspector Neil Pearson of the West Midlands Police, "we cannot forget that firms operating in the Jewellery Quarter manufacture and sell high profile, high quality goods. To give traders, employees and residents peace of mind we've installed a comprehensive CCTV system."
Radio-controlled security cameras
Nothing spectacular about that, you might think, but you'd be wrong.
Why? This is the first location in the country where such facilities are police-monitored via radio-controlled security cameras and linked to a Remote Management & Security (REMAS) visual management software system.
Working on behalf of client The Jewellery Quarter Association, REMAS has installed radio-controlled cameras in place of conventional, cabled CCTV. The system makes use of advanced, high resolution speed dome cameras that are both wall and pole-mounted. The cameras are then remotely operated by an interference-free radio signal at distances of up to 2.5 km from a central Control Room.
They also have the potential to be controlled from a mobile command centre.
A CCTV solution without cables
These new radio-controlled surveillance networks are designed for those end users who are looking for a CCTV solution, but feel that it may be too costly, complex or impractical to engage in the civil engineering operations needed for laying underground cables.
Although the cameras are controlled from one location, the system itself can be moved to any number of sites – offering the end user maximum surveillance flexibility. Temporary surveillance operations are an obvious application for the technology.
Commenting on the new installation Mike Paul of REMAS told SMT: "Radio-controlled systems can be used in diverse applications, from combating crime directly through to remote visual management. This is particularly important in the Jewellery Quarter, as it's a top tourist attraction offering potentially rich pickings for thieves."
Marie Haddilton, chair of the Jewellery Quarter Association, added: "Although the retail stores in the Quarter are highly secure, it's essential that traders, employees and visitors should feel safe. This system allows that."
Mobile command vehicles
SMT readers might remember that REMAS pioneered such radio control technology some three years ago, combining radio communication with front line fire-fighters from the Cheshire Fire Brigade.
Back then, a platform-mounted CCTV system was used to broadcast images from inaccessible and/or hazardous incidents to a nearby mobile command vehicle.
Source
SMT