Security tightened at civic centre
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date published: 10 March 2009
REVIEW . . . Charlie Parker
A security upgrade is under way at Oldham Civic Centre in the wake of the theft of 17 laptops — which is still being investigated.
Staff car park passes are being changed and access zones created, monitored by the central IT system.
The new system should stop strangers being able to tailgate staff into the building.
Old pass cards still circulating from workers who have left, or no longer have access to the civic centre and tower block, will be rendered useless.
The new cards will also limit access at night and weekends for the 800 to 1,000 staff who work in or use the buildings.
Chief executive Charlie Parker was planning a review of security before the theft was uncovered.
He said: “The badges will start coming on stream in the next two to three weeks.
“The whole thing will be operational shortly afterwards.
“The public will feel hopefully that we have improved security and protected the public purse.
“Visitors will wear badges and also see improved security and signing in for health and safety and general fire regulations.
“There is a feeling that this is long overdue, and at long last we have got the chance to tighten up.”
New locks, door key pads and other security will protect key rooms, and access points for staff to get into the civic centre and tower block will be tripled.
But once inside, the new zoning and passes will restrict entry to certain floors or areas, to stop strangers following staff into the building.
Visitors using the Rochdale Road entrance will be made to sign in and out. Contractors will be issued with temporary passes.
Staff cards will be electronically disabled if workers leave.
The IT system will not monitor how individual staff use the building, but will be able to monitor which areas are used by different departments.
The security crackdown was launched after 17 laptops were wheeled out in a recycling bin from under the noses of staff in January. It was the latest in a number of burglaries and led to door keys being replaced and late working arrangements clarified.
