The integrated security team behind a British prison’s pioneering war against drones shares its innovative and cost-saving approach with the UK Government.
Les Nicolles Prison on Guernsey became the first in the world to use a new system designed to stop drones smuggling drugs, weapons and other contraband over perimeter walls.
A group of four collaborating British companies styling itself as The Perimeter Security Centre of Excellence (PSCoE) installed the comprehensive perimeter protection package, including the new “Sky Fence” technology.
Now PSCoE (stand Z35) is exhibiting at the official UK Government global security event, Security & Policing 2018, from 6 to 8 March at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The unique three-day event, established over 30 years ago, is the premier platform for UK suppliers to showcase the latest equipment, training and support, police services, Government departments, organisations and agencies from the UK and overseas.
Binns Fencing, the leading fencing contractor for the Ministry of Justice, led the Guernsey project for the conglomerate, which offers the simplicity and efficiencies of a single line of communication and management from the cradle to the grave high-security perimeters.
Eclipse Digital Solutions is the second of the collaborators. It created Sky Fence with fellow British company Drone Defence and offered full turnkey security design through installation.
Eclipse’s Joe Vasso said: “Our proposition is all about seamless integration to offer the most cost-effective high-end security for perimeters – whether that be along a border, around a prison, airport or the Olympic Games, or even airborne above ground, on roofs and the like.
“The beauty of our conglomerate is that our relationships have been formed over the years, and we’re all friends, so the trust is absolute, and we care about each other.”
The other two members are Harper Chalice, an intrusion detection company providing PIDs, electric fencing and RADAR detection, and ISM, which offers integrated security systems, PSIM software and intercom security systems.
Together, they believe the UK Government could make significant savings by adopting its proposed model for delivering perimeter security and PIDs procurement and delivery.
Their single point of contact for the complete perimeter security package provides greater opportunity for innovation, reduced complexity and no need to manage multiple contractors.
PSCoE believes this could offer significant cost savings on PIDs cable installation and contract and project management costs – as with Les Nicolles, where the States of Guernsey runs the prison saved £1.3 million.
States Deputy Mary Lowe said: “The committee decided, following discussions with key staff, that it was possible to continue housing Category B prisoners at Les Nicolles without the installation, at significant expense, of a second fence.
“While the second fence is advised under UK guidelines for Category B prisons, the committee is comfortable that the current technological upgrade offers security that enables Guernsey to continue housing Category B prisoners.
“Sending such prisoners off-island to serve their sentence comes at a high cost of approximately £50,000 per year each. So the committee decided that these upgrades, which will cost £1.3m less than a second fence, offered a Guernsey-appropriate solution.”
Binns MD Adam Binns said: “We have devised this model in consultation with the Government, main contractors and suppliers, to deliver the best value and a greater potential to innovate with a single point of contact throughout procurement, delivery and installation.
“The model will give them trusted advice on design, manufacturing and installation from exclusively British companies with British products from electronic systems of CCTV, detection, video management and access control to physical security fencing, gates and hostile vehicle mitigation.”
Security & Policing provides a platform for professionals from the UK and worldwide to engage with the highest level of security expertise and the latest technology. It provides the level of industry engagement needed to enable the UK Government to procure and deliver its national security priorities.
