Solihull Community Housing (SCH) has just upgraded its CCTV control room. The housing body says this will offer SCH tenants and leaseholders greater security and protection.
The revamped control room, which is in operation 24/7, was officially opened by Councillor Ken Hawkins, Solihull Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, Housing and Regeneration. He’s pictured with with Patricia Smith, vice-chair of the SCH Board. All the recording has been upgraded. Also installed was a curved bank of digital screens for monitoring cameras.
Fiona Hughes, Chief of Operations at SCH, said: “This upgrade is great news for all our high rise customers as it allows them to live in an even safer environment. The new operating system works on a wireless network system offering us more flexibility with the opportunity for future growth and expansion for SCH.”
The SCH points to its multi-agency partnership working. So far this year more than 1000 incident reports have been forwarded to SCH partners including the police and social services, with images regularly used as evidence in court. Contract operators from MAN Commercial Protection manage the control room on behalf of SCH. They also act as concierges, controlling who enters each of the borough’s 37 high rise buildings, via a door entry system.
Other issues that the CCTV helps address include:
•Noise complaints;
•Vandalism;
•Fly-tipping;
•Trespass;
•Animal nuisance; and
•Tenancy Fraud.
