Dacorum Borough Council, long known for its CCTV services and shopwatch system in Hemel Hempstead, took a bold step to redefine its strategy. The move to a new location provided the perfect opportunity to break free from the escalating costs of rented fibre networks, expand service offerings, and explore potential revenue streams. Partnering with ShopSafe, the Council embraced an innovative, cost-effective solution for its CCTV and communications infrastructure.
About Dacorum Borough Council
Dacorum Borough Council serves a population of 150,000 across the major towns of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, and Tring, all located in West Hertfordshire. Hemel Hempstead, established as a ‘New Town’ after World War II, is just 24 miles from London and offers a dynamic mix of new tech businesses and historic charm. The surrounding towns of Berkhamsted and Tring, with their rich history, contrast with Hemel Hempstead’s modern industry, while the northern landscape gives way to scenic farmland toward the Dunstable Downs.
The Challenges
Outdated Infrastructure
Over the years, Dacorum Borough Council had built a reliance on third-party rented fibre networks for CCTV monitoring across the borough. As costs spiralled, these networks became inflexible, limiting the Council’s ability to adopt new technologies and expand their services.
Legacy Systems
The ShopWatch schemes had originally been a top-of-the-range analogue solution, managed by the Council. However, in 2011, the town centre shifted to a budget solution, which proved to be problematic and unreliable. This transition left the Council with an ineffective system that failed to meet modern operational needs.
Need for Cost-Effective Solutions
As the Council redeveloped its Civic Centre site, they recognised an opportunity to tackle these challenges head-on. The goal was to reduce reliance on costly third-party networks, while introducing a more flexible and resilient infrastructure that could support future technologies and generate potential revenue streams.
The Solution
Dacorum Borough Council decided to build their own microwave network to replace the costly rented fibre. After careful consideration, the Council chose a ring network design, which allowed data to flow in both directions. This design ensured resilience—if one leg of the network failed, the data would simply reroute in the opposite direction, maintaining seamless service.
To further enhance their infrastructure, ShopSafe proposed building a local and wide-area radio solution over the microwave network. The proposal included the installation of multiple radio sites around the borough, connected through the microwave ring. Using the latest digital DMR technology with IP connectivity, ShopSafe migrated the existing, ineffective town centre shopwatch schemes in Hemel Hempstead and Grove Hill to a more reliable system. Two new shopwatch schemes were also set up in Berkhamsted and Tring. With all five sites connected, the result was a robust and resilient wide-area communications network.
The Results
Flexible and Scalable Digital Radio Network
ShopSafe delivered a fully-featured digital radio system that could be tailored for both local services (for individual towns) and wide-area communications across the borough. Key features included GPS positioning, panic alarms, lone worker tracking, and text messaging. The system is monitored using PC software, which records all radio conversations and allows operators to stun or revive radios as needed.
Improved Communications Across the Borough
The new system allowed for better communication and coordination across all towns, helping local authorities and organisations operate more efficiently. The migration from analogue to digital technology significantly improved the reliability and flexibility of the system.
Income Generation & Cost Recovery
ShopSafe was responsible for delivering the entire solution, including the necessary training for operators. With the introduction of a 24-hour, 365-day HelpDesk and comprehensive support services (including Service Exchange and Batteries-for-Life), the Council ensured ongoing, reliable operation of the network. Additionally, ShopSafe handles the billing for radio hire and monitoring fees, generating a steady income stream to offset operator costs.
Wider Applications Beyond CCTV
The new system quickly expanded beyond the CCTV control room. One of the first new users was the Council’s own refuse department, which replaced an expensive cellular radio link with radios installed in their fleet of lorries. This system is managed separately from the CCTV control room, with its own PC management system, but still operates on the same resilient network.
