The Harlequin Centre Watford, has more than 65,000 sq metres of retail space, and 149 shops and is responsible for about 5,000 car parking spaces in Watford. It uses Sensormatic CCTV systems.
The Harlequin Centre Watford, has more than 65,000 sq metres of retail space, and 149 shops and is responsible for about 5,000 car parking spaces in Watford. It uses Sensormatic CCTV systems to monitor its public spaces and car parks. Since the introduction of CCTV to its car parks three years ago, the centre has seen a drop in car crime of 87 per cent. The Harlequin, part of Capital Shopping Centres, was equipped with an earlier generation of black and white CCTV camera?s covering its public spaces when it opened in 1991. But in 1997 the decision was made to upgrade to full colour Sensormatic cameras. At the same time the Harlequin began refurbishing car parks – a total investment of more than œ10m to date. CCTV coverage has been extended to the centre?s three car parks and four satellite car parks. Terry Creedy, operations manager at the Harlequin, says: ?The development of our CCTV system is an ongoing process. We now have more than 130 cameras around the centre and its car parks, and we continue to work in close partnership with Sensormatic on new developments, to extend the functionality of the system and to tackle specific problems. For example, we have a number of help points throughout our car parks and on our pay stations, where members of the public can speak to an operator. Sensormatic is currently working with our car park equipment supplier, ASCOM, to link nearby cameras into these help points so that they automatically turn to view the help points when they are being used. The Harlequin has 17 million visitors each year and it is important that both they and their vehicles and property remain safe and secure whilst they are here. Our retailers also need to be protected, and the Sensormatic CCTV system that we operate has enabled us to make huge steps towards reducing crime in and around the centre.? The Harlequin centre employs a range of Sensormatic cameras within its network, for optimum coverage. General, external and car park coverage is largely achieved through SpeedDome cameras which give 360 degree views at up to 12x times magnification with continuous autofocus. Within the shopping centre more discreet SpeedDomes give wide angle coverage; these are supplemented by fixed cameras to cover areas such as pay machines. Vandal-proofed fixed cameras also cover some car park entrances and exits. Some 62 per cent of retailers in the Harlequin use Sensormatic AM (accousto magnetic) EAS (electronic article surveillance) technology. The Harlequin plays a part in Watford Retailers Against Crime, an organisation that works with the police and with Watford town centre CCTV. Terry Creedy adds: ?Through WRAC we share pictures of known criminals. The clarity of the pictures that we get through the CCTV system and the ease of operation of the camera controls helps us to identify and track these people very quickly. Because of our record of identifying criminals and then supplying video evidence to allow successful prosecutions, crime in the centre has been reduced.? See www.sensormatic.com.
