Alan Townsend, chair of the ATM Security Working Group, talks to Tim White, Head of Security for Retail Services, about Tesco’s security strategy for ATMs.
With over 2000 UK stores and about 3000 ATMs as part of its estate, Tesco was determined to find the most effective security investment to protect its assets, but more importantly to protect its staff, customers, cash service providers and ATM engineers.Acutely aware that ATM crime in its various forms was generally on the increase, Tesco was resolute that as a major cash machine deployer they should not become the target of criminal attention and decided to find and install the most effective and reliable security. Driven by its core business values and commitment to local communities, Tesco is committed to creating the safest environment for its customers and staff by reducing criminal opportunity on their estate through the right security investment. Tim White says: “Our initial concern was the ever increasing national attacks at the point of ATM replenishment by the cash service provider. This not only put the cash-in-transit operator at risk, but also our staff and customers; neither scenario was acceptable.”<br><br>The challenge for Tesco at that time was that if offenders got their attack right they could potentially access substantial sums of cash, encouraging organised criminal gangs to repeat this type of offence over and over again – something had to be done! Les Kynaston the Tesco Security Manager conceived a solution, which Lockpoint’s engineering specialists incorporated into their design – the result being the Gryphon Anti-Duress Guard (ADG) inner safe door. The ADG system presents a total wall of steel with no visible sight of the ATM cassettes when the safe is open, incorporating keyless access, with concealed locking arrangements and a time-locked control system that only permits one cassette to be exposed at any time. The embedded control microchip provides complete forensic reporting to assist in unravelling the events leading up to and during an attack should one take place. The system has been tested and passed to LPS1175 level 3 and significantly reduces criminal opportunities typically associated with the ATM room duress attacks.<br><br>So successful were the trials that Tesco commissioned 1800 ADG systems to be installed in its higher risk ATM sites and these are now fully implemented. The retailer then reached agreement with its project partners that G4S would install and provide front-line maintenance for the ADG systems. Tim White says: “In essence we have developed an innovative and leading ATM security solution, which substantively protects our business. Our security supplier has provided the expertise and equipment, our cash service provider affords security from their vehicle to the ATM and installs and maintains the equipment and we provide a far safer environment for our staff, customers and ATM operators.”<br><br>G4S has applauded the use of the inner safe door and its impact on reducing attacks on their staff. Kevin O’Connor, G4S Risk Director, says: “The initial trial of the Gryphon system dramatically reduced the number of attacks on our cash-in-transit teams, as criminals quickly realised that there was little chance of defeating the device, and this success has been repeated as the roll out has expanded. Our teams quickly came to terms with the familiarisation training and universally welcomed the benefits of increased safety from attacks. We are delighted that Tesco has commissioned this design for their ATMs.” As well as controlling duress attacks against cash-in-transit operators, the design concept of the Gryphon inner safe door includes features which have been immensely successful against out-of-hours ATM burglaries. Such is the performance of the wall of steel and method of installation that it resists attacks by metal drills, angle grinders and oxyacetylene torches frequently used by organised burglars. In one recent case a team of burglars spent several hours cutting through the inner safe door with an oxyacetylene torch, only to find that the cash in the cassettes had been destroyed beyond use; following discussions with the appropriate banking authorities Tesco was refunded for the damaged cash.<br><br>For Tim White the results year-to-date compared to 2009, following the implementation of the Tesco ATM security strategy, justifies all the effort: 64 per cent reduction of attacks at Tesco ATMs, 90 per cent reduction in Tesco cash losses, 92pc reduction in G4S cash losses; and 83pc reduction of injuries to G4S cash-in-transit operators.<br><br>Tim White adds: “I am particularly pleased with the dramatic reduction in injuries to cash-in-transit staff together with the significant reductions in both attacks and financial losses. As you would expect we deploy a wide range of security controls to protect our ATM estate, but at the heart of these is the Gryphon anti-duress system. The collaboration between Tesco, G4S and Lockpoint is evidence of both innovation and true partnership.”
