A state-of-the-art fibre powered CCTV surveillance system with more than 30 cameras covering all access points and key intersections, motion detectors, 24-hour control centre and dedicated response vehicles have been launched in the Midrand community of Glenferness.
Glenferness is a community of 200 plots in a four square kilometre area bounded by Main Road, the Jukskei River and the Helderfontein Estate.
The system is tracking all vehicles entering, travelling and exiting the area and incorporates specific features which enable the security services, community police forum and the police to quickly determine the status of a vehicle by matching up its registration and description against a master database of thousands of known ‘suspicious’ vehicles.
The system can even determine if the vehicle is using false license plates.
From concept to Saturday’s launch took about 16 months and an approximate capital expenditure cost of R700,000 of which residents contribute a monthly fee. TRSS Reaction, the appointed security services provider, has come to the table by lowering its monthly fees to individual homes in the area. Other key service providers include fibre provider Kiklo and OSM providing independent monitoring services.
Peter Wraight, the project manager for the system on behalf of the Glenferness Resident’s Association said, “Partnerships are the key – building relationships with the residents, the service providers, the law enforcement agencies and the neighbours such as Century Developments whose Helderfontein property adjoins Glenferness and is willing to share the security costs on the common border.”
After a security assessment was conducted in the area, the first actions were to map the area with the specific objective to sort out the street, plot and portion numbers and to arrive at a common identifiable system of numbers and addresses which are essential for emergency medical services and security to immediately identify the location of a medical or security incident. A proper branded sign with the correct address number can be found on homes throughout the area.
Additional billboard signage at access points and throughout the area indicating that the CCTV service was live and the dedicated TRSS response patrol vehicle have seen a major drop of “suspicious” vehicles entering the area as well as a drop in the number of criminal incidents.
Special cameras with night vision and license plate recognition capabilities were then mounted on robust stainless steel posts and linked to the standby control room by fibre while motion detectors were placed at all vulnerable and strategic areas.
“Getting the project off the ground had its challenges,” said Wraight. “Residents were sceptical to join or didn’t want to pay but we really had no choice – last year there was a murder in the area, increased hijackings and robberies – the crime was increasing all around us.
“We were fortunate to meet up and work with the Sharonlea residents on their system, which is rated as the most secure suburb in Gauteng and we wish to thank them for sharing their information and experiences,” he added.
Brett Fisher, Executive Director for TRSS said, “The GRA system is an excellent tool in the fight against crime because it gives us as the security provider the ability to pro actively manage the area and stop the crime before it happens.”
“We will continually upgrade the system to ensure that we stay ahead of the criminals instead of being held hostage to the ever increasing wave of hijacking and violence incidents in Gauteng.”
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Glenferness expects to be on the top of the most secure suburb list in Gauteng very soon and judging from the tracking demonstration on Saturday to the residents, they are well on their way.
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