Police Scotland cuts down on radio comms at the Open Golf Championship with CCTV

Police Scotland reduced its use of radio communications during last week’s Open Golf Championship in Troon, Scotland, through the deployment of the force’s communications vehicle, CCTV and support from Veracity – a video surveillance company.

Police Scotland’s Mercedes communication van (pictured right), situated 50 metres from The Open 2016 at the Royal Troon site, acted as a control centre for 13 cameras varying from analogue, high-resolution IP devices and thermal imaging. The devices were mounted to view the spectator stands and parts of the course with some able to pan the course when required.

CCTV on The Open site had a range of sight of up to 200-250 metres to allow surveillance staff to monitor the crowds as they moved around the course and notify the police of any potential threats.

“It gave the control room staff a lot of insurance over what they normally would have got as a radio call,” said David MacGregor, senior technical officer, Police Scotland. “They got a feel for how busy it was very quickly as opposed to talking back and forward and having to ascertain on a map how the situation fitted together.”