A security review has been carried out at Norfolk County Council after an intruder was able to wander through the building.
One man and his dog spark security review at Norfolk County Council
Dan Grimmer
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
6:30 AM
Extra security measures have been introduced at the headquarters of Norfolk County Council, after an intruder filmed himself and his dog wandering through the offices at County Hall.
It means groups of 20 or more who organise events at County Hall in the evenings or weekends will be charged for a dedicated security officer, while an electronic tracking and security monitoring system is to be introduced.
Four videos were posted on YouTube earlier this year showing a man and his pet spending at least an hour walking through the Martineau Lane building.
According to the man’s own voiceover, he was in the building when it was closed on a Saturday.
The man smokes and drinks, turned on a computer and a radio, looked at documents on desks and at one point, bumped into a county council worker, who did not challenge him.
In the council’s legal department NPLaw, he read documents and case papers he found on desks and went into the office of head of law Victoria McNeill, where he rummaged around her desk.
The man started filming on the top floor of the Martineau Lane building and continues all the way down to the basement, but he did not state how he got into the building. He also did not show how he got out.
A Norwich man had been charged with racially aggravated harassment following the incident at County Hall and was due to appear before magistrates last month. But the case was discontinued.
In the meantime, questions over security were raised, with two asked by member of the public Alan Hall at a council meeting this week.
He asked what improvements to security had been made and what steps had been taken to ensure the offices at NPLaw were locked when not attended.
Cliff Jordan, cabinet member for efficiency, said: “Norse undertook a full site survey as part of the security review following the incident and identified a number of improvements to the security arrangements at County Hall.”
That means groups of more than 20 external delegates hiring rooms at County Hall at weekends or evenings will be charged for the services of a security officer who will be responsible for making sure the building is secure while allowing the meeting to take place.
Mr Jordan added: “An electronic tracking and security monitoring system to the County Hall complex will be installed. It will allow the movements of the security staff to be audited, ensuring good security coverage on a 24/7 basis.”
An audit of swipe cards held by staff is being undertaken and, on the NPLaw issue, Mr Jordan said: “NPLaw’s offices are, for the most part, open plan and Norse has looked at options for making them more secure.
“In the meantime, steps have been taken to ensure that confidential material is all stored away in locked cabinet when not in use.”
• Do you have a story about a local council? Call reporter Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk
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14 comments
Exactly Nemesis. NPLaw, that strange chimera is awfully keen to be thought of as a firm of solicitors. Well NPLaw now explain to the SRA why you have people wandering in and out of your office at will. Wouldn't happen in my practice I can tell you. Has anyone thought that this is the only video we have seen so there could have been any number of people wandering in and out of the premises. We just dont have the evidence. I am certain this chap is not the only person to have given himself a conducted tour of County Hall, just the only one who posted it on You Tube!
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Electra
Thursday, March 7, 2013
As far as nplaw is concerned, I wonder how the Solicitors Regulation Authority views these breaches of security. I imagine that someone will have sent them the videos.
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Nemesis
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Valpy, far from bashing NCC, this security review, again, instigated from outside NCC, was long overdue. You prefer your most important legal documents lying around open for all to see and with access all hours ? What do you reckon would have happened, if this chap was malicious and he'd publicised tenders and contracts? I do not get bored, I have a garden.....
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ingo wagenknecht
Thursday, March 7, 2013
I think things should be left as they were, in the spirit of Borat's new era of openness. Sweet cheeks is very bad, raking up muck about the Gaffer’s little benefits misdemeanour. All in the past and conveniently forgotten, although you might have thought it would make him unelectable! No such luck.
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Police Commissioner ???
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Ingo, perhaps this is why they work for the Council and not in private practice. I love the idea of paying for extra security, where were the security people when this happened?
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DocOhNo
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Bingo Ingo!!!! Another opportunity to go council bashing. Don't you get bored?
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Valpy Word
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
How can Norfolk County Council be so lax on the security of information and yet refuse to publish the full details of the Cory incinerator contract?Maybe this is what new Tory leader Farmer Bill Borrett meant when he said the county council becoming "more open"
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Peter Watson
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
markt74 feel free to help NCC in their security review, now that they are looking at it your input would probably be appreciated. Speak up man, its for the best of Norfolk.
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ingo wagenknecht
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I used to be a security officer at County Hall, although this was a few years ago, I could tell you a few horror stories that make this look like nothing.
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markt74
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
If a solicitor, on leaving his legal practise, would leave then door open with vital clients case work open for perusal and an intruder, entering, would be copying vital clients information and publicising them, when they should be locked up in a secure cupboard, then this would result in legal claims, depending on the contracts, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds and cost herhim the job. Tom and Mutley have done Norfolk a favour, a years worth of free dog food is the least we could offer him in return...
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ingo wagenknecht
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I sincerely hope that m’learned friends – in the form of nplaw – will now be instructed by NCC to sue the backside off Norse for material breach of its service contract, so swelling NCC’s coffers by several millions of pounds in damages. What’s that you say? NCC owns Norse? Triples all round at Norse, then.
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Nemesis
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
This could have been so much worse. This harmless chap with his harmless dog could have been a gang of people out to do real harm. Although the architectural stock of Norfolk would have been immeasurably improved if the ghastly building had been blown up the consequences for people and the records of Norfolk doesn't bear thinking about. As for iffy cliffy being in charge. Don't make me laugh. He couldn't organise a Teddy Bears' picnic if the entire cabinet helped him. Why do you think this happened in the first place.
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alecto
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I shouldn't worry too much about the security in county hall as the biggest rouges by far, wear suits , carry briefcases and are enter legitimately.
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John L Norton
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Whats all the fuss about it was only Murphy trying to find some papers that would implicate him, nice to hear iffy cliffy is on the case we now know things will be carried out in an honest straight forward manor!!! Whats your view on cheating the benefits system cliffy?
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Sweet cheeks
Wednesday, March 6, 2013