First UK use of high security mobile fencing system Publifor.

12 May 2011

Betafence creates “ring of steel” for major security operation. A unique type of mobile fencing has been used for the first time in the UK as part of a large-scale police security operation.

Publifor, made by Betafence, was used to create a 400 meter “ring of steel” around Sheffield City Hall when it hosted the recent Liberal Democratic Party Spring Conference (March 11-13, 2011).

The fence was installed as part of the South Yorkshire Police operation to manage thousands of protestors demonstrating against government policy.

Kevin Steers, Betafence UK General Manager, said: “Publifor has shown itself to be an ideal choice in a high profile, high security situation. Aesthetically, it fits in with any urban area. Its design, strength and weight help effective control of large crowds and it’s quick and easy to install and take down.”

Publifor is specifically designed to stop unauthorised entry to a designated area on foot or in a vehicle. The fencing system has previously been used outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg and at the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy, in July 2009. It is also currently installed at sporting stadia across continental Europe including the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the San Siro in Milan and the Udine Stadium in Turin.

Publifor combines a steel base unit and uses Securifor welded mesh, which combines an anti-climb/anti-cut mesh aperture of 12.7mm x 76.2mm, eliminating ‘pass through’, with minimum weld strength of 75% of the ultimate tensile strength of the steel. Its construction offers excellent visibility for CCTV and security surveillance.

Publifor is available in a number of coating options and has high visibility gates for vehicle and pedestrian access to provide safe and secure access points and prevent unauthorised intrusion. Publifor is suitable for most types of ground and gradients. It is pre-assembled and delivered to site as a complete modular unit so it can be rapidly installed and removed with a forklift.

Publifor has been designed and patented by the Betafence Group, the market- leading fencing manufacturers. At present, Publifor is made by Betafence at its factory in Italy but in future it may also be manufactured in the UK at the Betafence site on Shepcote Lane, Sheffield. Betafence UK employs 300 people at its Sheffield site where fencing products have been manufactured for more than 75 years.

Sales.sheffield@betafence.com