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Low power latches help secure police resources

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 30, 2006

A novel intelligent cabinet locking solution incorporates Servocell's low-powered Active Latch technology to ensure the fail-safe functionality of the locks.

CasC, a leading UK intelligent locking systems specialist, has launched a novel intelligent cabinet locking solution that keeps track of retained items.

The storage cabinets actively manage and control users' access and record the details of the individuals gaining entry to each locker.

The new solution incorporates Servocell's low-powered Active Latch technology to ensure the fail-safe functionality of the locks.

The Staffordshire Police Force (UK) is the first customer of CasC's Intelli-Store solution offering a vital new secure storage option for a variety of markets including pharmaceutical, military, healthcare and aerospace, along with CasC's other known controlled access solutions.

Recently, the Home Office issued a directive that, in order not to compromise the system, each UK police force would be advised to have "total traceability" of its Airwave radios (police radios) - for example, who has each terminal, where it was previously, where and when it was signed back in and by whom.

With all police mobile communications being linked over a private network at a national level, the risks associated to the force's security when a radio is lost is immense.

In the event of one being misplaced, it must then be disabled immediately at some considerable cost.

In response to the directive, Staffordshire Police successfully trialled CasC's new solution for the access control of its Airwave Radios which are available to its officers and special constables.

All the special constables were involved in the trial, which lasted from March 2005 to March 2006.

The new locking solution for the individual lockers was developed around a software system which links access control details to officers' warrant cards - based on barcode identity - to each radio phone which is similarly identified.

The intelligent locking system works when an officer logs-in to a networked PC adjacent to the wall of cabinets using a barcode reader to formally identify him- or herself.

The reader then grants access to the locker in which the radio handset is stored and automatically records the name of the officer, the date and time that the locker was opened and the phone removed and where, when and by whom the terminal is replaced.

The total traceability of the system is vital in securely managing Staffordshire Police's critical resource, providing the intelligence required to prevent the force's security being breached.

Servocell's Active Latch technology is a very low-powered solution.

It ensures that the cabinets are powered-up constantly and continue to operate - even in the event of a power failure - thanks to internal backup batteries that can support the system for many hours.

The pilot project with the Airwave radio cabinets was such a success that Staffordshire Police is now working with CasC to provide the total traceability cabinet lock solution for its fleet management.

In this scenario the system would only grant users access to keys for cars which they are qualified to drive and would record the name, date and time each time keys were removed and returned.

Other possible applications of the system for the police force include the secure storage of evidence, confiscated drugs, CCTV and interview tapes.

"We recognise that taking an innovative approach to our own management for individual items could make a significant difference to the overall security and efficient running of our force", comments Simon Bryan, IT Manager for Staffordshire Police.

"The Airwave radio lockers are the start of a process of advancement that we hope will see Staffordshire Police Force leading the way in the adoption of technological innovation for advanced security".

"We are highly committed to developing the best solutions for our customers and partnering with Servocell has enabled us to provide an extremely low-powered, secure and failsafe system", said Richard Croft at CasC.

"Due to their versatile nature and unique traceability function, the cabinet locks will be vital to any industry where access to items and substances must be closely monitored and controlled".