West Orchards Shopping Centre

About West Orchards

West Orchards is at the heart of City centre shopping in Coventry, comprising of a 220,000 square foot area of retail space. The centre is home to 51 stores and offers a variety of retail outlets including major high street names.

The shopping centre has an annual footfall of 7 million and has a principal catchment area of over 500,000 people.

The Challenge

Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in anti-social behaviour & theft crimes at shopping centres across the UK.

West Orchards found that they were being targeted by a small number of persistent offenders. The limitations of their existing CCTV system meant that they struggled to provide high-quality images in order to secure prosecutions.

As one of the most popular shopping centres in the UK, West Orchards were determined to offer a thriving and positive retail environment. To achieve this they recognised the need for a modern CCTV system.

The Solution

AlertSystems conducted a thorough technical audit of West Orchard’s existing security infrastructure. It was clear that any new system needed to ensure the investment in the original system was maximised.

AlertSystems proposed an Avigilon platform as it would provide high-quality images in both live and recorded situations. This allowed West Orchards to quickly identify criminal activity and take immediate action.

The Avigilon Control Centre (ACC) software presented operators with a simplified layout including intuitive controls, to help them react to alarm activations quickly. AlertSystems used video encoders to allow West Orchards shopping centre to retain a number of key devices including their Pan-Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) cameras. This meant the operators in the control room could continue to use the joystick function when tracking someone across the site.

The design also included the installation of a number of high definition megapixel cameras in key locations.

The system has been continually developed and enhanced by working closely with the centre management team. Most recently, AlertSystems installed voice processors and speakers at the entrance and other high-risk points to support proactive remote CCTV monitoring. This service is being fulfilled by Alert Monitoring, a company within the AlertSystems group.

The Results

West Orchards currently have around 100 cameras across the site, these are monitored by their security team on 12 dedicated screens within their control room. The combination of HD Avigilon cameras and intelligence from the existing retail radio system now provides the security staff with fast and accurate information, as well as providing the police with detailed footage. This has already resulted in a number of convictions being secured.

The new systems have allowed West Orchards to more efficiently manage their manned guarding and respond effectively to any potential incidents. The introduction of remote CCTV monitoring has helped the shopping centre to reduce their overall security costs.

The security systems introduced by West Orchards have gained wider recognition having been featured on Channel 5’s ‘Caught on Camera’ programme.