No ‘Prison Breaks’ here...

Australia’s largest privately owned security company, SNP Security, has successfully completed two upgrades of security systems in prisons which were occupied and operational during the process without incident or compromise.

Thomas Embling Hospital, which houses 118 inmates, and The Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) SNP Security Managing Director, Tom Roche, said the ability to upgrade and improve security systems while still housing inmates is becoming a key requirement when undertaking prison projects, given the pressure correctional services are under at the present time. “The upgrades required careful, strategic planning followed by precise implementation. There was no room for error. Any lapses in security could have placed inmates, medical personnel, guards, visitors and SNP staff working onsite at considerable risk,” said Mr Roche.

The Thomas Embling Hospital covers a massive 8.4 hectares, and contained within the secure grounds are seven accommodation units, educational and recreational facilities all of which have been designed to integrate security and containment without inhibiting the philosophy of patient care.

DPFC is over 12 hectares in size and provides maximum and medium security facilities with specialist accommodation for remanded and sentenced female prisoners.
In both prisons, the challenge was to complete an overhaul of the out-of-date access control systems and re-organisation of the communications room, all while maintaining the very high levels of the existing security standards. The project took three months to complete

“The Victorian SNP Security team which has been working on these projects went above and beyond to ensure that all the clients’ needs were achieved without incident,” said Mr Roche.

Case Study: Dame Phillis Frost Centre