Case Studies

G2 Integrated 'Bangs Up' deliquents with assistance from LILIN

The Brief

Former Home Security David Blunkett is to lock up delinquents on the cusp of a life of crime in a new Channel Five show.

Banged Up, commissioned to Shine to produce the series (4 x 60 minutes), is branded as a social experiment by Channel Five and will follow ten juveniles who are ‘jailed’ for two weeks in a former prison in Scarborough.

Reformed criminals will speak to the ‘inmates’ in an attempt to steer them back on the right path with harrowing tales from their own lives. Every other day, a ‘parole board’ led by Blunkett will speak to the juveniles about their experiences and possible rehabilitation.

The Solution

Central to the success of the series, due to be broadcast from 7th July 2008, is the use of CCTV cameras to monitor prisoners when the camera crew finish recording. The use of 24 hr surveillance not only captures all images of the ‘inmates’, who are selected from pupil referral units, charities, youth groups and community projects that can be used in the programme; but offers a fresh perspective on the debate surrounding youth crime and punishment.

David Blunkett said Linking preventative work in warning young people, with a clear method of getting across to potential criminals and the public as a whole, the reality of prison, will make a significant contribution to both education and greater understanding.

The control room which maintains a 24 hour observation of the Victorian prison cells, is the nearest anyone is allowed to get to the prisoners. Wired back to a different cell within the prison, the CCTV equipment used had to be extremely reliable.

The Result

G2 Integrated Security Solutions, chosen by Shine to install the CCTV system at the Scarborough site, selected LILIN products for the installation. After extensive research and a thorough understanding of the unique requirements of the project, Simon Garson from G2 chose one LILIN digital video recorder, ten cameras and two LCD TFT monitors to watch the prisoners.

In each cell there is an IR vandal proof camera which is linked back to the 16 channel digital video recorder. This camera provides reliable and clear pictures of the prisoners, whether during the day or at night. Footage recorded by the digital video recorder is edited as AVI files by Shine, which is subsequently shown on the television series.

The excellent quality and reliability from the cameras and the digital video recorder has been the success for this application. The CCTV equipment was originally rented by Shine from G2 for 12 days; however Shine were so pleased with the results that they purchased the products. Simon Garson, Managing Director of G2 explained “although the images from our cameras were not as clear as the channel 5 camera footage the clarity in the control room was stunning. Shine have said that they will definitely use us again-what an accolade for a Scarborough company !”