The London Borough of Camden has introduced an innovative key control solution to enhance security measures across its public services. The council, employing over 1,000 staff, is responsible for a wide range of areas including education, housing, environment, transport, and public safety. With the main administrative building in central Camden demanding increased security, the need for an improved key management system became evident.
Camden council identified a significant challenge in managing the various keys used daily within its facilities. Security staff occasionally forgot to log keys in and out, and contractors faced issues returning keys on time. To address these, Camden sought a solution that would enhance key control, reduce dependence on manual logging, and fit within a defined budget.
Morse Watchmans Solution
Morse Watchmans responded to Camden's needs with the introduction of the KeyWatcher® Key Control System. This custom solution records the full access history of each key, requiring users to enter an individual authorization code, thereby ensuring only authorized personnel can release keys. The system eradicates the risk of unauthorized key removal.
The KeyWatcher® is equipped with KeyPro® Performance Software, a user-friendly PC application
The KeyWatcher® is equipped with KeyPro® Performance Software, a user-friendly PC application, providing real-time key accountability and access logs. The system delivers comprehensive activity reports, tracking key movements by date, time, authorization codes, or biometric data. Constructed with a robust metal design, the KeyWatcher® replaces outdated lockboxes and unreliable manual record systems.
Fingerprint Access Control and Implementation
Following the success of its initial installation, Camden Council expanded the KeyWatcher® system to seven different sites. The system's fingerprint access control option ensures each key's user is tracked, streamlining key management. Staff are assigned varying access levels, supporting effective control and minimizing the risk of errors. Contractor usage is meticulously logged, ensuring all keys are returned as required.
By adopting the KeyWatcher® system, Camden's team has improved operational efficiency. KeyPro® Software promptly alerts managers if keys are overdue or missing, significantly reducing the risks associated with lost or unauthorized access. The generated detailed reports provide a complete audit trail, easily accessible at the push of a button, thereby saving valuable time and resources.
The London Borough of Camden provide a host of public services to the inhabitants and stakeholders within Camden.
The council are actively involved in many areas such as local education, housing, the environment, transport, policing and public safety. The council currently employ over 1,000 members of staff across its different functions. The Security division are tasked with managing the security for the councils’ main administrative building in central Camden.
Manual logging system
Technology Objective - The council needed a solution that would provide greater key control and would reduce the need for a manual logging system.
The Challenge - Like many other companies, Camden Council have an array of keys that are used daily by different team members. Within the main administrative building security staff were occasionally forgetting to sign keys in and out. Issues were also becoming apparent with contractors who were failing to return keys at the end of duty. The solution had to be delivered within a defined budget and be fully auditable to give an insight into the whereabouts of any key at any particular time.
Individual authorization code
Morse Watchmans Solution - In order to address the needs of Camden Council, Morse Watchmans introduced the KeyWatcher® Key Control System. The KeyWatcher® is a custom-tailored solution designed to record the access history of each key, including user, date and time of checkout and return.
In order to release an assigned key, each user needs an individual authorization code. By having individual authorization codes, the risk of a key being misplaced is greatly reduced. The risk of unauthorized people removing keys is completely eradicated.
Biometric access data
The KeyWatcher® comes with its unique KeyPro® Performance Software. This userfriendly PC application delivers real time information concerning the total accountability and history of any key for the KeyWatcher® system. Activity reports are easily produced that can trace a keys’ movements by date and time, authorization code or biometric access data.
Constructed in rugged metal the slimline design eliminates the need for outdated lock boxes, unreliable manual logs and messy key identification tabs and unreliable key recording manuals. Due to the success of the first KeyWatcher® system, Camden Council have installed the system across 7 sites in various sizes.
Fingerprint access control option
In Action - The KeyWatcher® Key Control System, complete with fingerprint access control option is now used across the whole of the London borough. The KeyWatcher® controls access to the keys which are tracked while in use, including check out times and user names.
Staff are assigned various levels of access to the keys which helps to maintain effective key control and guard against carelessness or oversight. Any contractors that need access to keys are logged by date, time and user to ensure that no contractor can forget to return a key. The KeyPro® Software is used regularly to produce reports concerning usability and any security alerts.
Saving valuable time
The Results - By implementing the KeyWatcher® Key Control System, the team have been able to work much smarter and faster i.e. if a key is overdue or missing the KeyPro® Software will notify the manager immediately.
As the system only releases keys to authorized people, the risk of keys being lost or taken by an authorized person is reduced. Finally, as the KeyPro® Software produces detailed reports on the KeyWatcher® system, a full audit trail is avaliable at the touch of a button saving valuable time and resource.
