Responsible for the safety and security of a huge number of public facilities, including leisure centres, libraries and event spaces, local authorities are increasingly looking for ways to improve security, while also streamlining the security management process.
With multiple requirements from a legislative, insurance and public safety perspective, local authorities need a simple and effective solution that provides flexibility through advanced technology. Security must be closely monitored and access restricted where necessary, while at the same time enabling easy access to public areas.
The electronic key: brimming with technology while providing a simple and effective solution
Through innovative electronic key technology, local authorities can simply and cost-effectively replace existing mechanical locks, with a solution that provides integrated intelligence in the key, with permissions stored within it. If your key has authorisation for that lock, it will open. If you don’t, you won’t be allowed to enter and all of the activity carried out by your key will be recorded.
With high volumes of people entering and exiting local authority facilities, it is important to be able to trace who has been where, when and for how long. Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users, including a complete audit trail. This information is often used by local authorities for audits, improvements or compliance.
Magnetic induction: the contactless solution
Utilising the latest contactless technology further enhances the electronic key solution, enabling multiple access options and deeper levels of access rights. The most innovative system is compatible with badges and cards, and the keys are equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) module. Combining the solutions enables local authorities to manage access operations in great detail, with access rights granted depending on specific conditions. For example, the members of an orchestra may only be able to access the music conservatory, using their membership card or badge, if a music professor has already entered the premises using his electronic key.
Permissions can be added or updated from a computer or, even more conveniently, using an app on a smartphone at any time, which will update your key's permissions via Bluetooth. This allows shortened validity periods, constrains movements to be in line with local authority access policies and removes travel and fixed authoriser costs. In turn, this delivers increased flexibility and higher levels of security
With public safety and security high on the government’s agenda, local authorities are increasingly required to adopt the most technologically advanced access control solutions and LOCKEN, the leader in cable free access control solutions is on hand to help with their solution based on advanced software LOCKEN Smart Access.
Customer Case Study: French town, in the heart of an area of outstanding heritage, benefits from upgrades to the LOCKEN solution
Equipped with LOCKEN electronic cylinders since 2010, Saint-Avertin's access points are now managed by the new LOCKEN solution. More efficient and communicative, this makes it possible to adapt to even more varied types of access.
Laurent Lacour, head of the municipal police, highlighted the benefits of this decision: "It is a very positive step for us. Firstly, because the new contactless key is much faster than the previous one. It is impressive and very important for our day-to-day work: as soon as the key is entered into the lock, the cylinder opens. It opens regardless of whether any dust or foreign bodies have built up.
“Above all, the MyLocken app significantly enhances the system’s security by allowing rights to be allocated anywhere and at any time".
Christophe Fort, deputy head of the police, added: "The new-generation keys offer another vital advantage for our town. The system is compatible with the use of badges and the keys are equipped with an RFID module, which acts as a badge. While an electronic key cannot be given to every member of a sports association, it is possible to give the members a badge. This means that, eventually, several thousand people will have access to the facilities while respecting the security of the premises as a whole.
"Combining the solutions does not stop the management system from remaining perfectly effective. On the one hand, because the program manages access operations in great detail. And on the other, the badge reader specific to a building is only triggered if access to the site has previously been unlocked by an electronic key belonging to a manager. For example, the members of a swimming association will only be able to access the building if a swimming pool manager is already on the premises."
The future prospects mentioned by the two police officials - installation in a new gymnasium, fitting electronic padlocks to the mobile barriers around the château, etc.- demonstrate the extent to which the solution meets the municipality's needs across the board.
Saint-Avertin, is a dynamic town with a population of 15,000, which forms part of the university town of Tours, twenty times larger. LOCKEN hopes to extend its access control solution to other areas of this historic city.
For further information please visit www.locken.co.uk
