Secure access for firearms officers
Dorset Police has been operating a biometric access control system on one of its remote Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) armouries for ten months with great success. After initial teething troubles, the system is now working well.
Dorset Police has been operating a biometric access control system on one of its remote Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) armouries for ten months with great success. After initial teething troubles, the system is now working well.
The system is operated in conjunction with a Bewator communications system which allows access to be granted remotely by the HQ Comcen Supervisor.
The system allows any authorised firearms officer (AFO) to swipe a fingerprint via the reader that disables the alarm. The AFO then presses a single button on the Bewator intercom, which direct dials a dedicated phone in the Force Comcen, where the supervisor can speak to the AFO and also see them on CCTV.
If they are happy that the AFO has a justified reason for accessing the armoury, they enter a code on the phone which will release the electronic door lock giving access.
The alarm will set automatically once the door has been shut for five minutes with no movement inside, eliminating the possibility of someone forgetting to set it. For Firearms Instructors and nominated supervisors who require more frequent access, there is no need to contact Comcen.
The fingerprint reader disables the alarm, and by being linked into the PAC electronic lock system, it releases the lock granting access. The PAC system produces an audit trail of all attempts to gain access, whether successful or not.
In addition to the normal alarm notifications, the system can also send an SMS message directly to nominated mobile phones, enabling ARVs to respond directly to any activation.
