Lock Down

In light of recent events, security in the UK is at an all time. While we are assured that the chance of a security breach or incident is highly unlikely, holiday park owners and facility managers are right to be cautious and take appropriate measures to safeguard themselves, staff and visitors.

When the owners of Hampshire-based touring and caravan park Sunnydale Farm were looking for a solution to reduce uncontrolled vehicle access to the site, it was the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system from IDS Group that caught their attention. Open all year round, the park is visited by many campers, tourers and suppliers each day. Having previously tried traditional gates and overhead height barriers to control access to their site, owners Stella and Bill Matthews were looking for a more secure, efficient and automated solution.

For the entrances, IDS Group installed two electronic barriers and two ANPR cameras for incoming vehicles. They also incorporated 1080p HD resolution IP CCTV cameras with infrared night vision to automate the access to the site and give a general overview. As the vehicles are typically caravans and longer than the average car, it was important to strategically position the ground loops effectively to avoid the barrier coming down too soon, due to the length of the vehicle.

The exit required more consideration, such as the safety of children, cyclists and proximity to the main road so IDS Group installed an electronic barrier with a longer loop for the delayed exit. The ANPR cameras provide barrier control and create time log recordings of length of stay.

“In a lot of cases holiday parks have several entrances and exits and receptions desks are not always located at either of them - this makes it difficult to monitor who leaves or exits their sites. So many holiday parks are having to deal with unwanted guests, as such, this can lead to theft, vandalism and a threat to customer security,” explains Tas Kyriacou, Head of Business Development at IDS Group.

ANPR and barrier solutions have been growing in popularity over the years and the control this security solution provides to staff can significantly reduce risks to the park. According to IDS Group, an ANPR solution can start from around £6,500 up to £12,500 depending on many variables. CCTV solutions can start from £4,000. “Just like anything else in life, you get what you pay for, so if you invest in the right technology, you will be sure to enhance the safety of your customers and property and since your customers are what generates revenue, you will need to protect your assets,” says Tas.

“However before thinking about the technology, it is important to find a security company that can understand your requirements and have the ability to deliver what is required. A good security company is imperative to the delivery of the right solution.”

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Earlier this year a caravan was stolen from Bynea’s Gateway Caravan Park in South Wales. The high-value caravan was taken in broad daylight between 9am and 11am in the morning. Elsewhere in the country, offenders gained access to a window of a static caravan at a holiday park in Dorchester and stole valuable items of diamond jewellery. And in Scotland, police appealed to the public for more information after two mountain bikes were stolen from a caravan park in Peebles in August last year. The bikes had been taken along with the chains that had been used to secure them to a tree.

Unfortunately, cases of holiday park crime like these are not uncommon. And worryingly, crime levels across the country are on the rise. The Office for National Statistics said that recent police data showed a nine per cent rise in overall crime in 2016. Last year Avon and Somerset police pledged to increase resources in Burnham, Brean, and Berrow after a number of incidents at holiday parks over the summer months. Police officers and holiday park owners met to discuss ways of cracking down on crime in the area. Owners of holiday parks in Burnham, and its surrounding areas, said they had to deal with a number of caravan thefts, as well as drunk and disorderly behaviour on a regular basis.

This prompted the police to upgrade their Pubwatch scheme - a partnership where independent groups of licensees work with police to pre-empt crime and antisocial behaviour in licensed premises. The scheme saw the installation of more high-quality radio systems and more staff onsite who are able to connect directly with the police. In Lincolnshire, the local police force offers a Caravan Park Watch Scheme to tackle caravan related crime across the county.

Caravan site owners, Lincolnshire Police and other representatives from the caravan industry meet regularly to discuss caravan related issues. The initiative was set up initially to tackle a growing number of burglaries occurring on holiday parks, especially during the winter close down period. Since the Caravan Park Watch scheme was implemented in 2014, caravan related crime rates in the area have dropped by over 45 per cent.

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Company Contacts

Crosby Intruder Alarms  Tel. 0800 917 1441  www.crosbyintruder.co.uk

IDS Group  Tel. 0208 819 1044 www.idsgroup.uk.com

Leisure Days Tel. 01422 396 770 www.leisuredays.co.uk

Wilby  Tel. 01422 358 525  www.wilbyltd.co.uk