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SAPS forensic lab optimises security

Controlling the flow of people.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is responsible for the combined total of all policing activities in the region of South Africa. In 1995, 11 policing agencies in the region joined forces to form a single national police force. Today, SAPS is a police force that counts 132 000 officers, averaging about one police official for every 360 citizens nationwide.

The biology unit at SAPS’ Forensic Science Laboratory recently moved to a new site in Pretoria. Originally the Andrew McColm hospital, this site was refurbished and transformed into a world-class forensic laboratory. This facility currently houses some of the world’s leading forensic scientists, as well as the world’s first robotic automated forensic DNA typing system. This genetic sample processing system significantly improves the speed at which DNA analysis results can be obtained, ensuring that DNA evidence is expedited in important court cases.

It was important that the site established itself as the flagship of the SAPS Forensic unit. Thus, the project required finding the optimum access and security solution to meet the client’s exigent needs.

The access control solution had to monitor entry into and within the building, as well as oversee the flow of highly confidential DNA evidence between different areas of the facility. The integrity of the information needed to be maintained at all times. These extremely important and sensitive issues increased the demand for reliable security.

UTC Fire & Security recommended an ATS Master integrated system that allowed access control at various doors throughout the building. Every ATS Master panel has an IP interface installed to allow TCP/IP communication with the server and amongst panels.

Bioscript V-Smart biometric readers were selected to provide the highest level of access security. These readers are equipped with a Mifare card reader, which requires both scanning a finger and presenting a card. As the fingerprint is stored on the card, it allows for a database of all employees to be added to the system.

The Alliance Professional software package was provided as the centralised security platform, permitting authorised personnel to control the system from any of the client’s computers.

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