Millwall Football Club

Millwall FC, known as The Lions, is based in Bermondsey, South East London in a 20,146-seater stadium, known as The Den. Millwall FC was originally formed in Millwall in 1885, on the Isle of Dogs, in the heart of London’s Docklands. Despite the move up-river to Bermondsey in 1993, on the south bank of the Thames, the club kept its original name.

Security Integrator, ScanGuard, manages all aspects of electronic security at The Den. Scanguard was asked by Millwall’s board to implement a new CCTV system which reflected the club’s commitment to lead the way in stadia safety, security and site management.

Richard Frere, Managing Director of ScanGuard, explains, “CCTV systems in sports stadia must comply with the UK Government’s Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, (the Green Guide) in both their design and operation. The focus is spectator safety on match days and how the CCTV system can assist on-site staff with achieving this effectively.”

ScanGuard upgraded the existing, 56 camera, analogue CCTV system to a brand-new, 96-camera, Digifort Video Management System. The system has a central control room of 20 monitors; three dedicated operator positions; and two, additional, match-day workstations for the police. All the cameras are controlled and recoded by two live servers which will switch automatically to a failover server, in real-time, should the live servers or system network develop any faults.

Richard added, “The system is straightforward to operate. We have a hierarchy of staff users viewing only those cameras allocated to them, depending on their role. Match day settings, which are different to day-to-day operational settings, are automatically triggered by a single, Global Command for simplicity.

“We chose Digifort because it is a cost-effective, scalable, intuitive, server-based control system, fully supported through its channel - UK manufacturer, Redvision. It has no annual maintenance fees and client viewing software is free – even in a control room like Millwalls. Digifort maximises the incredible functionality of the X-SERIES™ rugged PTZs and VEGA™ fixed cameras we have used around The Den. Due to its integration with almost 400 other CCTV brands, Digifort has given us the flexibility to re-use legacy CCTV cameras and encode analogue cameras into the system.

“The X-SERIES™ rugged PTZs and VEGA™ fixed cameras are well-established in public-space, commercial and Government applications. Digifort is also extensively used in high-security applications, including government, public space and critical infrastructure projects. Our systems are in sports stadia already, giving us a wealth of experience, so we were delighted to work with Millwall FC to help specify a robust, functional and future proof CCTV system for them.”

Millwall FC is extremely pleased with the new CCTV system, which is operating faultlessly. It is proving popular with the club’s CCTV operators and match-day staff, due to its ease of use. The ability to review high-definition images immediately has enabled operators to respond appropriately to match day incidents as they happen.

Richard Frere concludes, “The time spent on careful system design and investing in high-quality equipment, has given a better solution for Millwall with a lower cost of ownership. The Green Guide’s governance and risk obligations are met completely and staff and spectators are kept as safe as possible. The decision to implement the new CCTV system highlights another example of Millwall FC’s commitment to lead the way with safety, security and a well-managed venue.”