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Cash-in-transit on-line CCTV

Group 4 Securicor (G4S) is a world leader in security solutions, offering security services, systems, cash services and justice services, with some 300 000 security officers and support staff worldwide.

Operating in some 100 countries around the world, G4S provides security for embassies and governments, airlines and financial institutions, retail chains and key sporting events. More than 20 000 customers benefit from G4S's expertise in outsourced cash management, transportation and ATM services, and G4S moves more than 300 billion British sterling in the UK each year.

Given the nature and sensitivity of its business, particularly in the cash-in-transit area, G4S felt it needed better surveillance of its trucks in case drivers found themselves in dangerous situations. They had to shorten their response time in the case of an intrusion and have the ability to find out where the truck and driver were located in case of a robbery.

"We wanted to be able to see what was happening with a driver, as well as install panic buttons that could be used, sending a message to our cellphones and control centre," explains Tim Rosco, a security architect and manager of the CIT services in G4S UK.

A more comprehensive security system, including a closed circuit television and communication network, would also offer better contact with the drivers when they were out in the field. "We needed to be able to see if the drivers were following the correct protocol," he added. "We wanted to make sure they were not just throwing down the cash or ignoring our phone calls in order to eat a sandwich."

Solution options

G4S began looking for a stable, closed circuit television system that would stream live video with reasonable quality over the Internet from any vehicle. It needed to be stable and fairly simple to use, a plug-and-play system that would be easily installed and operated from G4S's fleet of trucks. The system also required a recording mechanism, so that the company could go back and look at an event in the case of a claim or complaint.

"We needed live communication with the drivers," says a G4S security official. "We needed to be able to see them and talk to them."

When G4S came across the Servision solution, it found that the Servision IVG system offers compression that enables streaming of high quality video over cellular networks. Servision installed its IVG400 system of integrated video gateways that support up to four video channels simultaneously and six input sensors in the G4S fleet of cash-and-carry trucks. Designed to be used outdoors and withstand cold temperatures, the Servision IVG400 is connected to analog cameras and powered by either the car battery or an external battery, offering lower power consumption. The system is closed when the vehicle is turned off, but it has an internal ignition system that allows it to continue to record and stream video even when the car battery is shut off.

The IVG also has WiFi capability, which allows any recorded data to be downloaded automatically once the vehicle reaches the company station at night, and can be sent via landlines, ISDN lines and cellular phones. Besides creating a constant voice connection between the central command centre and the driver, there is a method for keeping in close contact in case of an emergency, and for locating the vehicle with the GPS capability, which notifies the control centre of the vehicle's location if it has been stolen and moved from its initial position. All the information necessary - including video, location and data - can be transmitted to the control centre and the private PDAs of the security managers and officers.

The result

For G4S, the benefits of the Servision IVG system are twofold. G4S now has steady video contact with its employees while they are on the job, and a shortened response time in case of an emergency. If a G4S truck is stolen or robbed, the Servision system can sound an alarm; send a text message to the relevant mobile phones and an alert to the monitoring centre. Moreover, if there is a loss of communication between the headquarters and the vehicle, hinting at a possible problem, the command centre can dial into the system and determine the nature of the problem.

If there is a situation unfolding at the vehicle site, the sensors in the IVG system allow the command centre to take action from its remote site, including stopping the engine, and locking or opening the doors.

"The abilities of the Servision IVG system were exactly what we needed in order to retain better control over our work and staff procedures," says Roscoe. We needed to know that we could protect our customers, their goods and our staff, and that is what this system does."

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