Case Study: Providing a Safe Shopping Experience

Beales is an expanding retail group which has twelve stores across the country. Kent and Sussex Security (KSS) was approached by Beales to help them update the CCTV system at their store in Tonbridge, Kent. KSS kept the existing cameras, but installed a digital recording system and replaced the telemetry controls and thus the system performance was dramatically improved. Beales were delighted that KSS provided a low cost solution for their security needs and so contacted KSS again later in the year regarding another project.

To enhance their growing portfolio of stores, Beales took over the former Allders store in Horsham, Sussex and asked KSS to design and install a CCTV system for this exciting new venture. KSS were pleased to help and ensured the project was ready for the store's opening in September.

To save cost and avoid disruption to the building, KSS made maximum use of the existing cabling infrastructure from the previous CCTV system, designing a first rate surveillance system which was wholly appropriate to the new store configuration favoured by Beales.

Nine high-speed surveillance domes made by 360 Vision were ceiling-mounted on both the main sales floor and the mezzanine. These give comprehensive overlapping fields of view and can be set to patrol automatically, or can be manually controlled by security staff should they need to investigate any suspicious activity. One high resolution low light switchable colour camera covers the area outside the staff entrance. A further six high resolution vandal resistant static dome cameras are used to cover other key service areas, such as loading bays, stock rooms, cash handling areas, etc.

The system is recorded by a Dedicated Micros 16-camera DS2 digital video recorder, with a built-in DVD writer for archiving incidents. In addition, there is the facility for the store's management to access live or recorded camera views via the store's computer network. Camera control is via a joystick keyboard which can be used both for programming automatic tours and manually investigating incidents.

"We have brought together a selection of solutions to meet the requirements that Beales outlined as their perfect surveillance system" comments Geoff Hilton, KSS Managing Director. "We designed a sympathetic, cost-effective solution to enable Beales to provide a safe and welcoming environment for their customers and staff."

Comments Louise Cummings, Store Director of Beales of Horsham "Ensuring the comfort and safety of our customers and staff is our primary concern and we are delighted with the full and comprehensive service KSS has installed in our Horsham store"