Magpie Security provides its clients with comprehensive security services specially tailored to their requirements. With a client base of businesses both large and small throughout the UK, the company's projects are highly diverse and often require equipment sourced from several different hardware producers.

The latest offering from Magpie is a pair of surveillance vans deployed with guards to patrol sensitive and high risk sites where a strong security presence is required. The vans were developed with Mercury Fire & Security, which supplied the Hikvision cameras and network video recorders that lie at the heart of this unique CCTV solution. Mercury also installed a solar panel and batteries to power the system without continuously running the vehicles' engines and sourced a 3G router from Eseye Communications. Depending on the success of the project over an initial trial period, the new solution will be rolled out to additional vehicles in the near future.

The process of constructing a fully mobile security solution rather than the usual stationary system presents a different kind of challenge for implementation teams. Both vehicles are fitted with 4 HD turret cameras, with one van also equipped with a PTZ camera and NVR to act as a kind of mobile HQ. But this equipment faces an environmental and durability challenge far beyond the majority of conventional stationary CCTV solutions.

Lewis Foster, General Manager at Mercury Fire & Security, says, "Being vehicle mounted, the cameras and recorder are obviously in a harsh environment. The vehicle is expected to still drive at 70mph, to withstand the usual potholes and speed bumps, and to be operable 24 hours a day. Vibration is the main challenge with this setup but, so far, the Hikvision cameras have withstood several months without a hiccup. Obviously the large PTZ camera that we fitted is a little more delicate and so, for reliability, this is strapped during transit. In any case, it has been very reliable and performed faultlessly.

"Magpie Security requested internet access to the cameras meaning a capable 3G router was required and this streams the video live to guards on site on their mobile phones so they can patrol and still utilise the vehicle. Fortunately the IVMS-4500 app allows this to securely be easily set up on a number of guards' phones."

Lewis says each vehicle is equipped with four DS-2CD2332-I turret cameras. "We were confident that the turret cameras themselves would withstand any vibration and so we have mounted them securely to the vehicle using standard brackets mounted to a bespoke frame created especially for the vehicle. The NVR is a little more sensitive due to the hard drive, so foam insulation was placed around the NVR to offer some cushioning during motion. Care was taken not to block up the vents in the NVR and this solution has proved to be very reliable, which is a testament to the quality of the Hikvision equipment."

The new mobile solution suggests a promising future for both Mercury Fire & Security and Magpie Security, with initial trials proving that the equipment is withstanding all the demands placed on a mobile solution. Sam Futer, Technical Operations Manager at Magpie Security, says, "This project has pushed the equipment to the limits in a harsh environment. Ensuring reliable operation of the equipment has been critical and solving the issues with solar power gives an eco-friendly solution, meaning the engine doesn't need to constantly be running. So far the equipment has stood up well to the inherent vibration and gives great quality for a price far below specifically-designed vehicle solutions."

On the future potential for both the new solution and the use of more Hikvision products within Mercury Security's business endeavors, Lewis Foster says, "This project may be the beginning of a new market for us. Vehicle-mounted CCTV has already been used by the police for years but, until now, the price has been prohibitive, with vehicle-mounted PTZ cameras costing many thousands. Now, we're able to offer quality equipment for a very competitive price. Certainly we hope to continue to partner with Magpie Security, offering additions to their existing vehicles and further CCTV vehicles as their contracts using the vehicles grow."