Videalert News Update January 2022

January 2022

News update

New framework award Videalert enforcement solutions can now be procured through the Transport Technology and Associated Services (TTAS) framework run by Crown Commercial Services. Marston Holdings won a place on all lots of this framework which include: • Lot 1 - Transport Professional Services • Lot 2 - Transport and Pedestrian Control • Lot 3 - Transport Signage and Lighting • Lot 4 - Transport Data Services • Lot 5 - Sustainable Transport Technologies

Moving traffic enforcement Local authorities in England outside London will soon be able to enforce moving traffic regulations. Those that already enforce parking and bus lanes will be able to ensure compliance with regulations covering yellow box junctions, banned turns and weight limits.

This will provide a number of environmental and safety benefits, including: • I mproved pedestrian and cyclist safety, supporting modal shift to sustainable transport options • S ignificantly reduced network congestion • I mproved journey times for public transport and emergency service vehicles • I mproved air quality, reduction in transport related emissions contributing to carbon net zero targets

• I ncreased safety and cleaner air around schools – camera enforced school streets schemes proven to have positive effect •R eallocation and saving of police time To assist local authorities, Marston Holdings has produced a toolkit that summarises the most recent government information and sets out the support that can be provided by group companies. Click here to view or download the toolkit.

• Lot 6 - Major Transport Solutions • Lot 7 - Catalogue TTAS makes it easier for government and public sector organisations to procure Marston’s full range of solutions to make tangible progress towards their net zero pledges by enabling the design and delivery of pollution and emission reduction schemes of every scale. This includes planning through its award winning transport consultancy Project Centre through to effective enforcement using Videalert’s CCTV technology which includes fixed, mobile and hosted solutions that are quick to deploy and deliver a rapid return on investment.

The TTAS framework will also provide local authorities with the professional support and technology needed to design, build and enforce environmental schemes such as clean air zones and low emission zones as well as moving traffic contraventions as the remaining elements of Part 6 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 are enacted over the coming months.

Our new mobile demonstration vehicle

A focus on mobile enforcement Videalert provides councils the widest choice of options when determining the type of vehicle to meet their specific mobile enforcement requirements. Fleet options include fully electric cars, vans and motorcycles as well as hybrid and other fuel variants. Our fully electric options enable councils to demonstrate their commitment to reducing emissions.

Mobile demonstrations Our new mobile demonstration vehicle is equipped with a complete suite of traffic and parking enforcement applications, individual monitors and perspex screens enabling covid-secure demonstrations to be safely conducted in any location. It has six ONVIF-compliant HD cameras allowing demonstrations of optimum enforcement through a 360 degree field of view. A large format monitor has also been installed in the back of the vehicle enabling static demonstrations of the Videalert system to be given for larger audiences.

Vehicle Certification Agency approval We have Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) approval for ‘Over the Air’ data transmission from mobile enforcement vehicles (MEVs) whilst in operation. Data can be ‘livestreamed’ using 4G/5G as it is captured by moving vehicles, eliminating the need for operators to manually download data from the on-board systems onto USB drives before uploading it to the Videalert platform. Review operators can also access and approve the automatically compiled evidence packs even more efficiently.

New electric enforcement bike Videalert’s new electric mobile enforcement bike (MEV-B) is the only one currently available with Manufacturer Certification and will enable councils to efficiently enforce a wide range of moving traffic, parking and clean air zone contraventions whilst demonstrating their commitment to reducing emissions.

It has removable batteries allowing fully charged replacements to be quickly fitted to extend the number of shifts it can cover on a daily basis. The on-board systems are totally automatic requiring no manual operation and are powered by a separate battery with sufficient capacity to handle two shifts per day.

Each MEV-B is equipped with two dual camera units, one forward and one rear facing, each comprising both an automatic number plate recognition and a colour camera which captures contextual video evidence.

An interview with Mark Jones, Operations Director Introduction With over 15 years’ experience of the traffic and parking sector, including Civica where I headed up the division providing police forces with ANPR and parking software solutions. This is where I gained specific expertise of managing the changes when small software-based businesses are acquired by larger firms. As Operations Director, this will be particularly important as Videalert becomes even more closely integrated with the wider Marston Holdings organisation as it transitions to become a leading provider of technology-based transportation and enforcement solutions.

What are the key challenges?

Being acquired by Marston Holdings has enabled Videalert to significantly accelerate business growth. This has required us to scale up operations to meet the increasing client demand for our software-based technology solutions whilst continuing to deliver a consistently high level of client service.

New service delivery processes with inbuilt governance have been introduced to enhance the delivery of client-focused results. Simultaneously, we have been recruiting across the support team, and onboarding new starters to quickly get them up to speed. We have empowered

our people to own support issues and see them through to a successful resolution every time whilst encouraging innovative thinking to further strengthen Videalert’s service capability. This will not happen overnight but will deliver significant benefits in the long run.

Videalert now has over 1,000 camera locations across the UK. With the right people and processes in place, scaling up to meet the additional demand from local authorities as the remaining elements of Part 6 of the Transport Management Act 2004 are enacted will be part of our ongoing journey rather than a wholesale ‘step change’ in the way that we work.

Where do you see the main markets for Videalert moving forward?

Local authority clients are increasingly asking Videalert for assistance in the delivery of their net zero ambitions.

Technology-based transport schemes such as clean air zones, neighbourhood and school street schemes all help to reduce key pollutants such as nitrous oxide and particulate matter, resulting in lower levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As well as increasing road safety, Videalert automatic number plate recognition cameras will play a major role in enforcing these schemes, helping to change driver behaviour.

Using data generated by Videalert’s

software-based enforcement solutions more effectively will also generate new opportunities. Marston Holdings has been recruiting a team of data scientists to develop data strategies that enable local authority clients to better understand patterns of behaviour and make more effective decisions to meet their ongoing agendas.

What do you do outside work?

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family whether it is on camping trips, holidays, days out or just chilling with them as much as possible. I am also a keen cook and can often be found producing dishes that include ingredients that we grow on our family allotment. As a family we have also embraced the electric vehicle revolution which has reduced our impact on the environment and transformed the way we travel.

Halo support software We are currently in the process of implementing a new service management software solution that will transform our support delivery. Developed by UK-based HaloITSM, this software will enable us to standardise workflow processes and deliver insightful analytics to consistently manage incidents and meet client service level agreements. We anticipate that this will be brought online during Q1 2022 when clients can access a self-service portal to view their requests, raise tickets and find solutions from knowledge base articles. HaloITSM also uses artificial intelligence to automate processes and increase the productivity of our support team with machine learning to predict potential issues and prevent them from occurring in advance.

New faces Operations Director Mark Jones Development Manager Igor Toujilov Service Delivery Manager Emily Fitzpatrick

Implementation Consultants Mattia Falchi Paulo Silva Terry Hamley CCTV/ANPR Engineers Adam Corcoran Zak Ali

Support Analysts Abhi Shukla Paul Niven Sanmugam Raguthas MEV Workshop Manager Richard Joseph

Client news…

London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames The shared parking service for the London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames is expanding its usage of Videalert’s unattended rapidly deployable CCTV systems.

As part of this project, Richmond is transitioning to Videalert’s fully hosted platform which is already used by Wandsworth.

Videalert is also converting camera locations that currently connect to the council’s local area network to a wide area network configuration using its rapidly deployable server (RDS) and upgrading SIM cards within all existing RDS units from 3G to 4G. This will deliver a significant performance improvement across the camera estate in terms of speed and reliability of data transfer to the hosted platform. Click here to read more.

London Stansted Airport London Stansted Airport has installed Videalert CCTV enforcement cameras to eliminate incidents of tailgating as drivers attempt to leave the drop off zones and short term car parks without paying. The cameras were supplied as part of an ongoing contract with NSL. According to Steve Mills, Surface Access Manager – Landside Operations at London Stansted Airport: “This cost effective enforcement solution will enable us to rapidly achieve high levels of compliance, particularly in respect of repeat offenders that try to avoid paying their parking charges. This has been a particular issue in short term car parks where people have routinely stayed two weeks without paying. The cameras will help us to eliminate lost parking revenues and improve safety for all passengers around the airport.” Click here to read more.

Westminster City Council Videalert has installed over 33 CCTV cameras in Westminster following a comprehensive analysis of moving traffic enforcement contraventions including yellow box junctions, banned turns and restricted access. This follows a number of successful deployments across the West End with high volume traffic and complex moving traffic scenarios which demonstrated that Videalert delivered the highest capture rates.

“The cameras are playing a key role in helping to deliver Westminster City Council’s joint strategy with TfL, which aims to improve public spaces by reducing traffic congestion and tackling poor air quality,” commented Jonathan Rowing, Head of Parking Services at Westminster City Council.

Click here to read more.

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Videalert cameras are playing a key role in an award-winning traffic congestion and pollution reduction scheme implemented by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) in the SW6 area to the east of Wandsworth Bridge Road. The cameras capture the number plates of motorists who enter these roads with fines issued to those that do not hold a valid Hammersmith and Fulham residents’ parking permit.

This pioneering scheme has reduced traffic levels on Wandsworth Bridge Road by 12% and by 75% on the streets to the east of this main arterial route. Over 75% of vehicle movements have been eliminated, materially reducing congestion and local vehicle emission-related air pollution for residents. Carbon emissions have been reduced by one tonne per day and there has been a 50% improvement in air quality.

This scheme has also been recognised by the industry and LBHF was proud to win the futures category at the 2021 British Parking Awards.

Videalert online Ebrochure

Website Have you visited our new website yet? It forms a key part of the wider Marston Holdings site which was recently launched to showcase the company’s broad range of transportation and enforcement solutions. Click here to check it out.

Videalert CCTV enforcement solutions for clean air zones, neighbourhood traffic and school streets schemes are featured in a new ebrochure from Marston Holdings. The publication introduces the company’s portfolio of brands that specialise in their own sectors and work collaboratively to enable the delivery of differentiated integrated solutions. It also features some of the social value activities carried out across the business. To view the ebrochure click here.

Animation Have you seen the Marston Holdings animation which demonstrates how the organisation supports communities through integrated technology-driven solutions?

It can be viewed here.

User group update User Group

The Videalert user group will resume normal service in 2022. We are currently planning the first face-to-face user group meeting which will take place in London in mid-May. It will be a hybrid event that can be attended in person or online. The user group portal is also to be updated and we will be seeking input from clients about what this should look like. Further details will be sent in the next few weeks.

www.marstonholdings.co.uk/videaler t For UK and International enquiries: Videalert Ltd, The Clock House, Paines Lane, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 3BY, UK

+44 (0) 20 3931 6556

marketing@marstonholdings.co.uk