Total Security Concept unburdens Pathé

Pathé’s 22 cinemas are well secured.
Against fire, burglary, robbery and fraud.
Mactwin Security Solutions has been a permanent security partner for 8 years.
At Pathé Eindhoven, we speak with Nico Vertommen, senior manager operations, about risks and measures and his vision for the future on security. Since the acquisition of Minerva Cinemas in 2010, Pathé, the originally French cinema chain, has controlled almost half of the Dutch cinema market.
Spread over 22 cinemas, Pathé has no fewer than 200 screens in the Netherlands.
Nowadays, these halls are no longer just used to show (3D) films, but visitors can also attend live registrations of concerts or theatre performances.
“And we organise events for certain target groups, such as the Ladies Nights and Cinemum for parents and their babies,” says Nico Vertommen.

Cameras deployed against robbery and fraud risk

It goes without saying that Pathé has its affairs in order when it comes to the security of the cinemas.
It has to be, with more than 13 million visitors a year.
Nico Vertommen: “In the field of safety, all necessary and – from the laws and regulations – mandatory measures have been taken. And after a number of robberies at the beginning of this century, we created a security blueprint together with Mactwin. A document that specifies exactly which measures are needed to achieve the desired level of security. Of course, we have implemented these prescribed measures at all our cinemas.”
With success, because Pathé has not had any robberies in recent years.
An important weapon in the fight against robberies and (internal) fraud is the use of Cemacs Video Management.
There are plenty of cameras in every cinema.
The images from these cameras are viewed and managed from the Cemacs platform per location.
As soon as the ICT network allows it, this can be done centrally from the head office.
At the entrance of every Pathé cinema there are cameras that record every visitor.
There are also overview cameras scattered throughout the public areas.
In the cinema halls themselves, there is a camera that is aimed at the cinema screen, so that a technical malfunction in the film screening is immediately noticed and can be repaired.
At Pathé Groningen, Mactwin has placed a camera with video analysis at the exit.
This exit is located directly at the halls and therefore behind the ticket control.
The camera will sound an alarm when someone enters from the outside through these doors, rather than the other way around.
With the camera, Pathé prevents people from going to the movies without paying.
“Cameras also monitor all internal money processes. There are cameras above the cash registers and in the rooms where the money is counted. All our cameras have a preventive effect in the first instance. But, the camera images have also led to solving a criminal case on a number of occasions,” says Nico Vertommen.

Limiting Loot and Loot Chance

Cameras alone are insufficient.
Pathé has therefore also invested in good safes with time delays and access control measures that should, among other things, prevent visitors and other unauthorised persons from entering the staff area.
“In Eindhoven, for example, Mactwin has equipped all doors that give access to the staff rooms with finger readers. This has been done from a security point of view, so that we can be sure that areas where, for example, money is counted or where expensive and indispensable equipment is located, cannot be entered by the public. The finger readers also have a practical advantage. After all, our staff no longer needs keys and can therefore no longer forget or lose them,” says Nico Vertommen.
In recent years, there has been less and less cash in cinemas.
More than half of all payments are now made by PIN.
This share is expected to increase further in the coming years.
With all these measures, both the loot and the chance of loot are very limited.

Innovation

Cinemas are forced to innovate continuously.
Nico Vertommen: “At Pathé, we are constantly innovating. Think of our extensive range of services and the various ways in which our customers can buy their tickets.”
This urge to innovate is also reflected in the design of the cinema.
During our visit to Pathé Eindhoven, the finishing touches are being made to renovating the entrance, desk and shop.
As soon as you enter the cinema, you can go to one of the many ticket machines.
The desk clerk is still there, but is increasingly taking on an information and hosting function.
The visitor then enters the shop via the ticket control.
There is nothing left of the old well-known sales desk.
In the shop you can grab everything yourself; from your drink to the popcorn.
At the exit of the shop, you pay for your items at the cash register.
After this, you will walk to one of the many rooms for the film screening.
It goes without saying that Mactwin is closely involved in these types of renovations as a security partner.
If processes are changed or moved, the security systems must also be adapted accordingly.
“It is very nice that we can count on our partner. Such a renovation, for example, has a very tight schedule that demands quite a lot from the parties involved.”