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SAPS Forensics Unit secured

The Biology Unit of the South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) will soon move into a new home in Pretoria. The building - previously the Andrew McColm Hospital - is currently in the process of being refurbished and transformed into a world-class forensic laboratory. This facility will house a combination of forensic biologists, as well as the world's first robotic automated forensic DNA typing system. This genetic sample processing system will significantly improve the speed at which DNA analysis results can be obtained.

Owing to the extremely sensitive information, expensive machinery and number of people working in the building, the user client representative of the FSL Biology Unit, Johann van Niekerk, realised early during the project that he required a locking solution that would provide them maximum door security, without hindering staff movement through the building.

Following in depth investigations into high security locks, Van Niekerk and his team opted to implement an Abloy Protec Masterkeyed System. The Abloy Protec solution allowed Van Niekerk to implement maximum physical security measures throughout the buildings, without compromising the need for staff to be able to easily access different laboratories, evidence rooms, storage cupboards, etc. Importantly, a whole range of different lock types (door locks, drawer locks, access control locks and padlocks) could all be masterkeyed into the same system.

The Lockwise Group, sole importer of Abloy into South Africa, worked closely with Van Niekerk to understand the specific requirements of the SAPS and custom design a system based on those specific requirements. The Abloy solution allows for every person working in the building to carry only one key which gives them access to every office, desk, cupboard and laboratory that they are authorised to access, whilst at the same time excluding them from all areas to which they are not authorised.

Another significant factor in the decision to implement Abloy Protec is the absolute key security afforded by the system. Duplicate keys can only be obtained from Lockwise by presenting an authorisation card as well as written authorisation signed by specific individuals. Abloy Protec keys are patented worldwide, so there is no risk at all of unauthorised key duplication.

"Aside from the exceptional service and help we received from Lockwise - the fact that we can modify and upgrade the system with time assures me that I have implemented the best high security locking solution available," says Van Niekerk.

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