Security Cameras are to be installed in Purbeck School

A Dorset school has been enhanced for security purposes with a new state of the art CCTV system. Purbeck School in Wareham now has digital CCTV after Wessex Fire & Safety updated its old analogue system. The new system allows the school to have more control as well as helping to increase the safety off all its pupils and staff. The upgrade came from Shaftesbury-based Wessex Fire & Safety and was done for a total of under £5,000 along with extra cameras.

Without having to change the entire existing cameras, Wessex Fire & Safety were able to turn the old analogue system in the school into a digitally encoded IP system. Chris Trim, the security surveyor said: “This work just shows how it is possible to upgrade analogue CCTV systems without changing the cameras.”

“We were able to do it within the budget, demonstrating that it is a lot cheaper than what people think it is. We were able to turn the signal into a digital one and therefore retain the existing cameras. The benefit that it allows us, a far better picture quality and much more information can now be stored. We can view and search footage with greater speed and we are easily able to add additional cameras if need be,” he added.

Mr Trim said CCTV can serve other purposes in school, “Among other things it can help staff monitor the flow of students and decide how that can be better managed. There is complete site-wide coverage at the school and we can install enhancements in the future at little cost. Also the school became a full secondary school in September with our students ranging in age from 11 to 18 so it is important to upgrade.”

The school business manager, Sarah Cuff, said: “Having modern CCTV is important especially when we have almost 1,000 students here.”

Meanwhile in America, the Board of Trustees at Penn State have approved the installation of more than 450 surveillance cameras in Penn State dorms and other buildings around the campus. It is costing an estimated $1.4 million and is expected to be finished by the end of this coming spring semester.

The Director of Student Affairs at Penn State, Diane Andrews has said, “The safety of our students is the top priority. Privacy in the living quarters is being maintained, and conversations with residents show that they understand that by adding cameras in public areas we are enhancing safety in the place they live.”