A case study about a security system at a new south London shopping centre.
Croydon Centrale is a £200m retail centre with 74,000 square metres of shopping, and a 950-space shoppers’ car park. Property development and investment company St Martins Property Corporation – owners of the old Drummond Centre – redeveloped and extended the site to provide two-thirds additional floor space.
As well as two department stores – House of Fraser and Debenhams – and high street stores including Next, Zara, H&M, Mango, Elle and French Connection, there’s a food gallery.
With an estimated 30,000 shoppers every day – as well as more than 500 staff on site – St Martins made an early decision to install electronic security throughout all mall, car park and back of house areas.
St Martins’ needs
St Martins’ building services manager Paul Saunders said: "The old shopping centre had an antiquated monochrome CCTV system with just six cameras, so we decided from the outset that we needed the most up-to-date system available. As owners of the site, we also wanted a future-proofed security system."
ADT was chosen following a tender process. "We considered four other companies," Paul said, "but ADT offered the most competitive prices, the best products and a comprehensive and well thought-out approach showing they had considered all the options and which helped us understand exactly what we would be getting".
The solution
The £500,000 system involves 140 cameras, including both colour and monochrome dome and wedge type cameras fixed to all entry points to the complex, as well as the shopping mall, internal access stairways and non-public areas. These are linked to a CM9760 Matrix with built-in monitors and networked DVR recording units in a specialised design console in the central control room. Besides an Intruder Galaxy door alarm system – with audio intercomm and help points throughout the complex, networked via both fibre optics and nvt transmission systems – an intelligent fire detection system is also installed.
St Martins extended Centrale with a 300-seat rooftop food gallery – completed in November 2005. "We’ve had eight more cameras installed – again all linked back to the main control room, giving us complete security cover," said Paul.
Results
"ADT provided us with a project manager from the outset and have worked with us proactively to ensure we get what we need – and more," he added. "While acting as a visible deterrent, it also provides a level of comfort to the general public," Paul said. "And with the police making more and more use of CCTV footage in prosecutions, recording devices are vital. People today expect the best possible security systems in large complexes such as shopping centres, and ADT has helped us achieve that."
