Bank found impregnable

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 2

Bank found impregnable

(N.t Preu Attociation) WELLINGTON, July 3. For several months 15 experts have been trying to crack the security of the Reserve Bank vaults. But even such techniques as the use of disguise, sleeping gas to knock out the guards, and sneaking in through ventilation ducts, have failed. The 15 experts are not unhappy about this—they are responsible for the security of the building. The testing of theories for beating the bank has been a fascinating exercise, but now it is beginning to lose its appeal. The security men have settled for the theory that the vaults are impregnable.

Officially opened tonight, the new building of the Reserve Bank, at the intersection of The Terrace and Bowen Street, took six vears

and a half to build, and ia designed to carry out its function for 100 years. Security has been based on centralised control. Near the middle of the building on the ground floor is a sealed room of concrete, steel and armoured glass. It has two entrances, both with "holding” chambers. Permission to enter must first be obtained. The lock on the outer door is then

released by remote control

from inside the room, the

person is then scrutinised inside the "holding” chamber and the second door is un-

locked if he passes muster. Only • one door of the "holding” chamber can be opened at a time. In the control centre two people must be on duty at all times. This is because if a person alone In the room had a heart attack there would be no way of reaching him other than blasting a hole through a wall.

It is designed to resist a lall-scale siege and is selfntained, with a kitchen, a

modest food supply, and toilets. At a console the two security men sit 24 hours a day, watching four closedcircuit television monitor screens. At the touch of a switch they can select the picture from any of 27 cameras, and another switch pans individual cameras in any direction. Other switches open huge security gates, or close them. Lifts between the basement floors have no controls other than in the control room. The user must identify himself, identify his task, pass a camera screening, and survive a cross-check before he moves between floors. Nothing is left to chance or memory. Inside the control room, display panels with coloured lights give a check on the security status at every point. If a system develops a fault or is interfered with a warning light shows. If the direct link to the police is cut an alarm is automatically given. Feet-thick doors to the vaults are the final security.