Preventing Key Compromise throughout UK Prisons

Key compromise has always been a costly and time-consuming problem for Her Majesty's Prisons. For all locks to be changed at an average Establishment can cost tens of thousands of pounds and can take many days to complete. Avonwood Developments Ltd were contracted to supply the award winning Eureka Key Tagging System to the Home Office in 2000 and since then have installed the system into all Category A and many of the category B and C prisons throughout the UK.

The Eureka Key Tagging System has been designed around the specific needs of Her Majesty's Prisons. The key tag itself has been engineered to be both ergonomic and highly durable allowing easy attachment to different types of key sets and key seal systems.

Key tag read points have been specifically designed to fit inside pedestrian and vehicle locks with maximum effectiveness and the minimum of disruption. Special retrofit key chutes and key trays have also been designed with integral RF antennas for the key rooms so key sets can be easily and securely logged in and out of existing key safes.

The system is based on a modular building block design, which provides the flexibility to offer different Establishments the exact solution they require. System software has been developed with Home Office approval and is supported on a PC network running Windows 2000™ or Windows XP™. Avonwood also provides a comprehensive support package tailored to each establishment's requirements as well as individual training packages.

The RF Tag

The Eureka 411 key tag has been rigorously tested and meets approval by the Home Office. The key tag is a robust impact resistant active RF tag, fitted with a reinforced steel ring-fixing eye to increase the life of the unit. Coloured red the key tag compliments the Home Office traffic light system for items that cannot be taken beyond the secure line. The long life battery maintains the tags data memory and lasts up to 5 years with normal use.

System Operation

Each time a key set fitted with a key tag is issued and passes a key chute antenna, it is identified, health checked and logged in or out on the system database. In the event that a key tag is identified at any of the monitored exit points, a local alarm, a gate house alarm and the PC alarm can all sound, as well as the alarm type being displayed on the PC monitor. Simultaneously, the event will be logged and stored on the system PC along with data backups.

Benefits

• Strengthens security
• Cost effective solution
• Helps prevent a key compromise
• Flexible & robust system
• Suitable for all Establishments
• Easy to use
• Straightforward installation
• Upgradeable modules
• Full support & training

Conclusion

The Eureka key tagging system offers a cost effective security solution to assist in the prevention of a key compromise. The system ensures that gate staff have greater control of the keys issued along with round the clock monitoring to strengthen the security of the Establishment.

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