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Education Security
Bewator Security Equipment Helps Cut Crime At Clare College
Because every customer's needs are different, Bewator believes security control systems must be flexible enough to fit discreetly into a wide range of premises, and be designed with both user and operator in mind.
About Clare College
Founded in 1326, Clare College is the second oldest of Cambridge’s thirty-one colleges and occupies a large and diverse site developed over many centuries. Of particular note are the buildings which surround the ‘Old Court’, a Grade I star-listed gem dating from the seventeenth century, and reputed to be have been designed by the great Inigo Jones. With some 1,000 students, graduates, fellows and staff, Clare College is a busy and intensely populated site.
The Challenge
Despite its heritage, Clare College functions as a modern educational establishment and is far from immune to present-day pressures and problems. Burglary was a major issue, with thefts being reported in increasing numbers from student rooms, as well as from sensitive areas within the college such as the computer suites, and also the libraries where rare and valuable books and manuscripts are stored. Improving security needed a bespoke approach. The College's sprawling site, with three main entrances, did not help the security situation, and any security hardware would have to be installed in a way that was sensitive to the College's age and architectural importance.
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The Solution
To address these issues Head Porter, Peter Johnson, a former police superintendent and Cambridge Area Commander, decided to install Bewator access control technology at the college. It has helped reduce crime at the site by an impressive 68 per cent.
Bewator door access control equipment was linked to CCTV cameras via Bewator’s Entro V.4 software, an essential feature of which allows porters at all three of Clare’s lodges to view and control doors and gates throughout the site. This allows the college to benefit from manning only one lodge at quiet times without compromising either security or user convenience.
In all, access control equipment was fitted to 36 doors throughout the site, including some within Old Court.
Students and staff now all carry personalised security cards which, when held in the proximity of electronic readers, automatically release locks to open doors to authorised areas. Sensitive areas such as the library, are accessible only to those who are authorised to enter them. But despite the new security measures, users actually enjoy more freedom than previously as there is now no need for the night-time 'curfew' that had been imposed in an attempt to reduce unauthorised access at night.
The slim-line design and flexibility of Bewator's hardware came into its own, enabling installer Briar Security Systems Ltd. to set up control points in even the most architecturally-sensitive areas. And because all Bewator systems are designed to be expandable, Clare College can easily add new control points in response to particular security concerns.
“Recent additions have included an automatic lock on the famous wrought iron gates at the main entrance to the college, and also at the Gallery Door entrance to the Great Hall. The latter involved hiding a special ‘hands-free’ card reader behind wood panelling so as not to spoil the historic interior.”
Stephen Cook, Director of Briar Security Systems Ltd.
"Porters' Lodges are at the heart of College life and I felt it was vital we had a system that could be controlled from all three lodges at Clare College."
“Because of the age and architectural importance of the college buildings, great care had to be taken over the choice and fitting of modern security equipment. At every stage we have received advice and approval from English Heritage and local planners.”
Peter Johnson, former police superintendent and now Head Porter at Clare College.
Products used:
Entro V.4 system
HD500 Proximity Readers
HF500 Hands-Free Reader,
DC11 and DC21 Door Controllers
Bewacom Telephone Entry Systems
“I am delighted with the performance of the Bewator equipment. The hardware all works very reliably, and the Bewator Entro V.4 software that controls the whole system is very effective and easy to use.”
Peter Johnson, former police superintendent and now Head Porter at Clare College. |
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Education Security by Bewator
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