Seeking Better Value
Power Consulting (Midlands) Ltd build and control equipment used at three UK ‘waste-toenergy’ plants, which use biomass gasification to produce renewable, clean electricity from organic materials. The process offers several environmental advantages over incineration and other technologies, including reducing the impact of waste disposal by enabling waste products to be used as feedstock. Concerned that their existing security arrangements were not meeting their needs, Power Consulting Midlands approached Securitas to explore alternatives.
The story in brief:
- Power Consulting Midlands Ltd (PCM) was concerned that the security provisions at the three waste-to-energy plants were not only expensive, but provided insufficient cover
- We carried out a free, comprehensive risk assessment and technical survey of all three sites
- Our conclusion was that an end-to-end technology driven solution, supplemented with mobile patrols, would deliver more security for less outlay
- Using a combination of CCTV, motion sensor analytics, monitoring, maintenance, mobile patrols and access control we have significantly improved security and delivered substantial cost savings to PCM.
Using Technology to Protect and Save
All three plants had security guards in place but this was an expensive and inefficient way to secure the sites 24/7. So when Power Consulting Midlands (PCM) approached us their primary goal – as identified by Operations Director Darren Atkinson – was to “reduce the overhead without compromising"
Securitas’ James Goodwin began by conducting a free risk assessment and technical survey of all three locations. His conclusion was that a technologydriven solution incorporating multiple protective services would enhance overall security and at a lower cost than PCM’s existing outlay.
The survey identified that the existing CCTV was only used for evidential purposes – no one was checking it. We recommended it should be upgraded and monitored 24/7 by our Securitas Operations Centre (SOC).
As part of the upgrade, some cameras were replaced with a motion detector analytics system. This uses sensors to create a geofence (a virtual boundary); in the event of an intrusion, the sensors trigger an alert to the SOC team.
They use the CCTV to gain a visual and then issue a verbal warning to the intruder through the system’s PA. “The risk assessment indicated that one of the plants is slightly more vulnerable to deliberate intrusion,” says James, “so the surveillance technology on that site is supplemented with twice-nightly mobile patrols by our security officers in marked vehicles.”
Additional Installations
Since the start of our three-year contract with PCM we have also installed a new electronic security gate at one of the plants and begun to implement a comprehensive access control system at all entry points across the three sites. “This gives us a second layer of security because only nominated people can access certain areas,” says Darren. “It’s particularly important during night shifts and weekends when there are fewer people on site and we want to make sure they feel secure.”
We monitor and maintain all the systems we have installed and are equipped to respond quickly to any issues that may arise. As to delivering on our promise to deliver more security for less, Darren confirms that to date the savings have been substantial, saying. “The first year of the contract includes the cost of the hardware installation but even then we’re spending about 35% - 40% less than the previous arrangements and in subsequent years we expect to be saving even more.”
“...we’re spending about 35% - 40% less than the previous arrangements and in subsequent years we expect to be saving even more.” Darren Atkinson, Operations Director, Power Consulting (Midlands) Ltd.
