Question
Further to discussions with PSNI at Resources Committee on 19 December 2023, can the Chief Constable advise on what date PSNI became aware of a defective CCTV camera at the Steeple site and was it prior to the security breach incident of 11 June 2023?
Answer
There were no defective CCTV cameras within the Steeple site at the time of the security breach.
There is no record of G4S having raised or reported any fault with the CCTV cameras in advance of the incident.
The CCTV system was fully functional and, as advised in the report to the Board in November 2023, footage of the intruder entering and roaming the site was subsequently recovered for use in the resultant criminal investigation.
G4S reported a fault with the PIDS alarm system around the transport services compound on Thursday 8th June 2023. As advised in a written response following the July 2023 Board session and in the full report to the Board in November 2023, the Steeple premises officer raised this fault immediately with Information and Communication Services (ICS). The security breach then occurred on Sunday 11th June 2023.
A completely new PIDS system is presently being installed with a target completion date of late January 2024. The delay in rectifying the fault with the PIDS system around the transport services compound was due to the need to fund, procure and install a completely new PIDS system. Ideally, PSNI would have been able to procure a replacement part and rectify the issue relatively quickly, however, as it was an older product, replacement parts for the outgoing system are no longer manufactured or available in the market necessitating the need for an entirely new system.
To mitigate the risk posed by the delay in procuring and installing a new PIDS system a completely new CCTV system with additional cameras and upgraded software was installed comprising of 99 cameras in total and enhancing overall site and boundary coverage. The majority of the external lighting has been upgraded to LED and additional razor wire has been fitted to the main entrance. In addition to this, Unicam locks have been installed on the main building alongside new padlocks on both the pedestrian gates and public order village, as well as electronic access being fitted to 3 doors on the main building.
These enhancements were made in consultation between Security Branch and Police College SLT. Security and associated procedures and processes at our sites is subject to ongoing review.