Milestone Systems opens new UK Innovation Hub

Milestone Systems, the instigator of the open platform community in networked video management software (VMS), opened its new UK headquarters on Thursday 25 April at the Landmark Business Park in Reading, Berkshire.

The new Innovation Hub has been designed to support Milestone’s wider community of technology partners and features a new state-of-the-art Experience Centre complete with wall-to-wall screens for a fully immersive virtual presentation experience.

Attendees at the launch were able to witness the Experience Centre in use during a presentation by Dave Gregory, business development manager for Northern Europe at Milestone Systems.

Dave Gregory of Milestone Systems making a presentation at the launch of the company’s all-new Innovation Hub

The Experience Centre is the focal point of the new Innovation Hub and features six 65-inch screens as well as a video wall. The Experience Centre’s look and feel can be easily adapted to mirror that of the company brand using the Centre, and offers users a dynamic virtual presentation experience that captures the innovative nature of the Milestone community of technology partners.

The Innovation Hub has a working demo set-up of Milestone’s software and hardware solutions, together with some of its ecosystem partner integrations including – but not limited to – partners such as Axis Communications, BriefCam, Venzo, Nedap, Lenel and Bosch. This means that end users and channel partners alike can experience Milestone’s next generation open platform capabilities such as Artificial Intelligence-based video analytics (eg facial recognition) or user-friendly integrations for perimeter protection solutions like radars and intrusion detection systems.

A new training facility was also showcased at the launch event and will welcome up to 25 attendees at a time to take part in a variety of one-hour Continuing Professional Development courses in addition to Milestone’s certification courses that are already up-and-running. The training facility is also available to the Milestone partner community to use as training hub for a range of sessions.

Neil Killick briefs attendees at the official opening

Neil Killick, regional leader for Northern Europe at Milestone Systems, commented: “The launch of this new Innovation Hub in the UK is testament to the performance and dedication of the UK team. I’m proud to open this new facility that’s as much for our wider community as it is for the team here. Milestone’s open platform is the driver of innovation and collaborative solutions in the security space and beyond. The same spirit of openness is behind the launch of this new Innovation Hub.”

The overriding aim of the new facility is to nurture Milestone community partnerships, better showcase the open platform capabilities and introduce Milestone and its technology partners to vertical sectors beyond the security space.

Security Industry Authority promotes safer security at Reading’s student haunts

On the evening of Saturday 8 December, the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) South East Partnerships and Interventions Team and Thames Valley Police officers called at Reading’s top student pubs and clubs to share Best Practice guidance on safer physical intervention for door supervisors as a reminder of how to keep their clients and themselves safe.

The initiative marked the Reading launch of a campaign designed to improve students’ safety during the Christmas party season. The SIA team members shared posters and leaflets on ‘Safer Physical Intervention for Door Supervisors’ with four top student pubs. The information features guidance and illustrations of Best Practice for safer restraint. This is intended as a quick reminder for door supervision licence holders and relates to the training they received in physical intervention.

Kevin Young, the SIA’s regional investigations manager for the South Region, stated that the initiative is a positive way in which to promote safer working practices at venues where acts of violence or aggression could occur.

“We want students and young people to have a great night out and go home this Christmas unharmed. Of course, we also want to ensure the safety of the licensed door supervisors who work at these venues, the majority of whom do a very good job in what can be challenging circumstances. This latest initiative builds on an existing partnership between the SIA and Thames Valley Police designed to reduce the levels of violence induced by what can ve high levels of alcohol consumption at Reading’s nightspots.”

The initiative is supported by Thames Valley Police (Reading) and the University of Reading.

In addition, the campaign seeks to persuade businesses and door supervisors in Reading’s night-time economy to report incidents to the police such that the SIA can form an accurate picture of the level of violence that takes place against students and door supervisors. Incidents can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the Regulator’s website.

Perimeter security solutions specialist Zaun opens gates for Thames Water

Perimeter fencing specialist Zaun has installed trackless bi-folding automatic speed gates at a Thames Water administration building.

The vehicle gates – which incorporate live-monitored safety edges, dual-height safety photocells and manual-disengaging vertical infill bars – have replaced old rising arm barriers at Kemble Court, Thames Water’s Operations Management Centre in Reading.

Zaun also installed an adjacent pedestrian turnstile with a passage for bicycles and integrated the installation into existing fencing with 1.8 metre-high HiSec fencing.

So pleased are Thames Water with the vehicle gate solution that the business has specified it for one of its many sewage treatment plants – at East Hyde in Luton – that operates a combined heat and power (CHP) unit to generate the electricity the plant needs.

The CHP process ‘brews and chews’ sewage sludge to break down biodegradable material creating biomethane, or biogas, while methane from the sludge is burned to create heat, which in turn generates renewable electricity using a pre-treatment process called thermal hydrolysis.