A different security 'market'

Special Project: North East Fruit and Vegetable Market, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
Installers know that every unit of equipment in the security system has to operate and stand the test of time in the real world if it is to be proven fit for the purpose.

It has to be justified within the client's budget, stop repeat offences and be at the specified level of risk. Unless it is all these things, the system will exist as nothing more than a minor deterrent to crime.

Installers should also know how important it is to overview longstanding installations for updat -ing and as a prompt to gaining new business in other sectors with similar security needs.

With this in mind, in this article I will examine warehouse distribution and, as an example, I have selected the North East Fruit and Vegetable Market, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, for closer examination.

This is an area I am particularly familiar with and it illustrates a rather difficult security challenge due to it having a high volume of cash transactions within its £100 million a year turnover.

It is also highly labour intensive with the actual sales points or individual warehouse pitches being open to the trade. People move among the produce rather than having goods served from behind a shop counter or displays.

The security needs are, therefore, rather different at this market. One of the main requirements is to monitor high volume sales transactions within the pitches and surrounding areas which are open for long periods of time.

This is in contrast to the more familiar practice of installing security systems to stop the intrusion into properties such as secured warehouses or storage areas.

Initial access to these pitches, including their offices, is via the gatehouse which controls the entrance to the main site. It oversees the import/export of goods to and from many countries together with the entry/exit of staff, traders and security cash collection services.

There are barrier systems at this point together with CCTV cameras. Further cameras are installed at strategic positions throughout the site.

However, it is the pitches themselves together with their offices that have been found to need a much more customised security approach. To show this I have used the overall lighting, CCTV and intruder/access control systems operated by the most established and prominent fruit and vegetable distributor, Thomas Baty, to illustrate the typical risks and counter measures (see panel).

Lighting/general security
Throughout the pitches the lighting is fluorescent or metal halide. Because of their pleasant white source, high lighting levels and good colour rendering, the lighting supports the sales products and the CCTV system. They are economic when run over long periods, being very much low energy in relation to tungsten halogen.

   High pressure sodium SON is not widely used in these applications as it has not got sufficient colour discrimination for the display of fruit and vegetables … although it would be satisfactory in its own right for CCTV practices when natural light is unavailable.

All lighting on this site is dual role as it must satisfy both general and security functions if it is to be cost effective. All discharge lighting is mounted so that the heat generated cannot interfere with perishable goods stacked at high elevations. The instant response light of tungsten halogen is not needed because all lighting is over an extended period and older units of this nature have been removed due to their high power consumption.

Cost effective CCTV system
The CCTV system is used to view and capture main scenes but goes beyond its traditional role and is truly cost effective.

Here it is also used to take images of cash collection personnel being interrogated by an intercom at the cash collection area before being allowed access into the offices.

It is also used to view staff "clocking on" machines. Date and time are logged on the VCR to prevent colleagues clocking on each other and to prove actual attendance. This is thought to be the only practical solution as biometric equipment is not an economic option.

The CCTV can never stop all pilfering from the open-aspect pitches but, as a minimum, it identifies everyone on site at a particular time and overviews the essential activities. Colour cameras are installed for viewing the main scenes as they are better able to identify and track than monochrome.

  The offices use standard and basic intruder detection with only local signalling, because any alarm can be heard at the gatehouse.

Codelocks are used to allow entry to the offices by authorised persons only but have no alarm outputs. Similar codelocks are also used to control access to the warehouses at out-of-hours times, otherwise they remain open for deliveries and so do not have intruder systems.

Although detection equipment is now available offering excellent intruder warehouse protection and false alarm immunity, this has never been required as access is satisfactorily controlled by a single timelock.

In the event of any break-in to the warehouse, images can be viewed later on the CCTV recording equipment.

This is quite satisfactory because of the availability of extensive footage and overall control of the gatehouse. No ACPO/inspectorate body scheme is invoked for insurance liabilities so the system demands are less onerous but a degree of diligence is placed on the gatehouse in its keyholder role.

Future perspective
The North East Fruit and Vegetable Market is a well established distribution area with a high level of activity.

The distributors trading from it must be able to respond rapidly in organising deliveries nationally and to and from the international community as they deal with goods of a short shelf life. Sales and delivery data is rapidly input into the computer systems. In order to cope with the high demands placed upon it, Thomas Baty uses highly sophisticated PC programmes and networks to further communicate with its sister companies located at remote points. Facilities are, therefore, in place to move towards IP links and e-surveillance or ARC monitoring in the interim period – but it must be sold as a functional plan and not as a hasty or cosmetic gesture.

At present the reality at the market is that we have integration in a true sense … building activities and systems work alongside the security systems. Thomas Baty networks constantly monitor the exact level of high volume transactions and warehouse activities. The data is then checked against the security links.

In real terms security is an overhead that for the client does not make money but is maintained solely to control the risks!

In addition there are security/safety aspects to be considered involving the PA system and the implementation of a fire risk assessment.

Taking all these factors into account we know that the operation of the market will continue to be transformed as its processes alter. The role for the security installer is to remain alert as to how and when the benefits of attractive technologies such as IP can best be brought into effect.