Member Article

Dual-Stream protects religious buildings with CCTV

Electronic security firm Dual-Stream is expanding into a new sector, protecting religious buildings with CCTV systems and other equipment.

The Oldham-based firm has completed its first installation, at a church in south Manchester, and is in talks with other places of worship across the region.

They include other churches as well as synagogues.

St James and Emmanuel C of E Church on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, has previously been targeted by metal thieves and has occasionally attracted people who behaved aggressively towards staff.

The church and its thriving parish centre are now protected around the clock after Dual-Stream fitted recording and monitoring equipment.

In addition, an app relays real-time video footage so the church buildings can be monitored remotely by mobile phone. The recordings can also be watched remotely on a computer.

The vicar, Rev Nick Bundock, said: “Churches can be vulnerable and the installation of a CCTV system gives us peace of mind.

“It’s about taking sensible precautions. We can now see exactly who is entering and leaving, and it gives us more control over who is accessing the buildings.

“The CCTV enables us to direct appropriately-trained staff and volunteers to help with unexpected visitors who may need our assistance.

“More generally, the fact that people are being filmed is having a positive impact, as it makes our staff and visitors feel more secure.”

The two-storey parish centre at St James and Emmanuel is used by hundreds of people each day.

There are activities ranging from toddler and local history groups to exercise and dance classes. The complex is also used for private functions and provides nightly shelter for homeless failed asylum seekers in a scheme run by The Boaz Trust charity.

Stephen Reece, business development manager at Dual-Stream, said: “It’s a reflection of society that religious buildings in this day and age need protection and we see an opportunity in the market,” he said.

“The attack in France highlighted the vulnerability of churches, while a government initiative to fund security measures at places of worship is also generating activity in this sector.”

Earlier this year, the government announced a £2.4m security funding scheme for places of worship in England and Wales as part of its hate crime action plan.

It includes funding for CCTV, perimeter fencing, access control gates and bollards, alarms, lighting, locks and security doors.

Places of worship are eligible to bid for grants if they can show they have suffered an attack or that another within two miles has done so.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dual-Stream .