Leading national security systems installer Metro Security – which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2013 – has provided a range of important protective measures at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, North London. Located on the historic Hendon site of the former London Aerodrome in Colindale, the museum tells the 95-year old story of the RAF through its people and collections. Officially opened in 1972, the Hendon site now comprises five exhibition halls containing over 100 aircraft from around the world, along with a range of other integrated attractions including a 4D theatre, flight simulators and interactive exhibits.
Metro Security’s longstanding partnership with the museum first involved the upgrading of its existing intruder alarm system. Metro then moved on to expand the system to safeguard buildings on-site, newly opened areas of the museum and display cases containing valuable collections. The initial success of these measures led to high security movement detectors being fitted in the Art Gallery to alert staff to the presence of intruders out-of-hours, while Metro was also awarded the maintenance contract for all of the museum’s intruder alarm equipment. The company has additionally installed intruder alarm and CCTV surveillance measures in the rebuilt Grahame-White Watch Office, a grade 2 listed building, which was relocated from an area of the former airfield site designated for a housing development.
Metro Security’s involvement with the RAF Museum has recently included the design of a new control room that enables integration of the burgeoning security systems around the site. Using specialist inhouse knowledge from Metro’s sister company, Adder Digital Technology, the control room is equipped with a video wall allowing operators to monitor surveillance camera views. A high-spec digital image recording system has been interfaced too, providing full management of the multi-camera CCTV network.
“Metro’s all-round security expertise has enabled us to effectively deal with a variety of potential risks right across the site,” says Dave Rowe, General Manager at RAF Museum London. “The company has used its wide range of skills and experience to implement harmonised security prevention and detection measures that protect not only the site itself, but importantly safeguard our staff and visitors.”
“This is a prestigious and ongoing contract, requiring a variety of systems and services provided by Metro Security,” adds the company’s Sales Manager, Richard Meakins. “We’re continuing to specify and install equipment at the RAF Museum as needs dictate, for instance to safeguard new display cases containing valuable material, which are being introduced around the exhibition halls to enhance the overall visitor experience.”
Find out more about the RAF Museum London here – www.rafmuseum.org
