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TPS Awarded Security Design for Gulf Region’s Largest Mall

The security division of TPS (part of Carillion plc) is providing physical and technical security design services for the innovative new development of The Avenues Mall in Kuwait City - the Gulf region’s biggest retail mall at over 1 million square metres.

The project, headed by TPS Principal Security Consultant Steve Richins, has now entered its third phase of development which, upon completion, will see The Avenue’s Mall double in relation to its original size.

The existing mall - already a landmark in the region - will see the addition of several striking new retail areas with a prestigious level of finishes, services and facilities, including a gold Souk luxury goods mall. Behind the facades The Avenue’s Mall will see the creation and migration of a new operations centre as well as the installation and integration of more than 700 CCTV cameras and associated measures.

TPS consultants began work in 2009 on the security design, bringing to the project valuable past experience of counter terrorism advisory work on many of the UK’s largest shopping malls.

Senior Consultant of TPS’ Risk Management team, Gary Hellawell, began by completing a detailed threat and risk assessment. In designing the security systems a major consideration was the safety of shoppers and workers at the Mall, as was the protection of cars from petty crime and vandalism within the basement car parks and surrounding areas.

The ‘no-compromise’ approach to the security design of The Avenue’s Mall includes the installation of a new tried and tested Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system that will help address security challenges associated with having basement level car parking under the main Mall.

“ANPR systems have historically performed poorly when analysing Arabic number plates,” said TPS’ Director of Security Consulting and Explosion Effects, Mark Whyte. “However, advances in technology mean we are now confidently able to install an ANPR system in this region, knowing that it works.”

TPS’ security design includes mitigating measures to reduce the harsh climatic effects on the effective operation of the malls many CCTV cameras. The team will also address other key factors such as the need to put in place measures to prevent car crime and other petty criminality, as well as ensuring that back of house loading bays and other areas have the necessary levels of security.

“This project builds upon our expertise in the protection of crowded places and is recognition that the UK is a world leader in this particular area,” concluded Whyte. “TPS is able to bring best practice that has been developed in the UK over the last few years and demonstrate that good security design need not detract from the aesthetics that architects wish to achieve.”

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