Guarding construction sites with hi-tech spy equipment is paying dividends for a Bradford-based security firm.

Stones Enterprises, based at the Bantams Business Centre, Valley Parade, has increased turnover by 160 per cent in recent months since adopting a more focused and pro-active marketing and sales strategy.

It has also added three staff to its Bradford office, with employees originating from Singapore, the Gambia, Pakistan and Romania.

Stones employs a Shipley-based electrician to assemble the latest CCTV kit which uses infra-red cameras and live audio which enables monitoring teams to verbally challenge intruders at sites they are watching.

Kevin Polkey, the sales director, who joined the company in December, said the equipment could save companies up to £200,000 a year in security costs by replacing human guards.

He said: “Using security guards is suitable for some circumstances and our systems won’t replace them altogether.

“They provide a cost-effective alternative in suitable locations.

“We are registered with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act so that images can be used in court.

“As well as security use, our cctv systems are also enable construction firms to manage their sites remotely and can be useful to quantity surveyors or health and safety officials.

“We also provide a service to check a site before staff leave for the day to ensure that all is in order and no valuable equipment has been left handing around.”

Stones has 15 contracts at constriction sites around the UK. Recent contract wins include monitoring a sewage treatment plant for Scottish Water and a pipeline for Yorkshire Water between Dewsbury and Bradford.

Stones systems were suitable to construction sites as they could be run on batteries in the early stages when no mains power was available.

They create an infra-red “ring of steel” around sites which enabled cameras to zoom in on any point.

Stones recently won a contract at a Bradford haulage company which suffered a break-in reported in the T&A.

Mr Polkey said he would also look to develop business in the house building sector once activity picked up and also market its systems to hotels and private home owners.