Part of the UK’s second largest fixed-line telecommunications company, ntl:Telewest Business were requested to work on the project in response to high levels of vandalism in the area, as Greg Lakin, M&E Operations Manager at Solihull Community Housing explains:
“With vandalism costing the Council GB pound 500,000 a year, we felt that investment in ntl:Telewest Business’ network, enabling CCTV monitoring, would soon pay for itself.”
He continued, “The new solution, which covers multiple sites, has changed the way our operators work. They can now monitor what is happening from the safety of the control room.”
Solihull Community Housing has, until now, used traditional caretaking services to patrol sites. However, staff could only monitor a limited number of buildings at any one time.
With ntl:Telewest Business providing the core, high-speed network in the north of the Borough, 10-15 cameras could be installed in each high rise block, monitoring lifts, corridors and door entry.
Operators can now observe what is going on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, both inside and outside of buildings from a control room. In addition, a concierge service enables tenants to speak directly to control room operators if they are concerned about anyone trying to gain entry into the premises.
Lakin believes that Solihull borough’s 11,400 homes are already feeling safer. “Since the CCTV system has been installed we have dealt with numerous cases of criminal damage, fly-tipping, violence and graffiti and prosecutions have resulted from evidence caught on camera. The difference the offering has made to our tenants is invaluable as they feel more secure and confident.”
Christopher Small, Director for Public Sector at ntl:Telewest Business is also pleased with the partnership. “Solihull Community Housing is a perfect example of how technologies, such as IP CCTV, can help a community feel safer as well as providing essential evidence for police.”