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Metropolitan Safe Deposits: Peace Of Mind

Christopher Barrow Metropolitan Safe Deposits ensures your most valuable possessions are safe and secure ‘We know who, what, when and where at all times,’ smiles Christopher Barrow, Chief Executive of Metropolitan Safe Deposits. ‘Those are the critical questions in our business. From multi-layered alarm and surveillance systems to tried and tested physical security, we offer clients an affordable, convenient world-class facility.’ Metropolitan Safe Deposits opened its Chiswick office in July following a 10-month build that required 225 tons of reinforced concrete to create space for two basement vaults made by the industry’s leading manufacturer, Robur Safe. At full capacity, the Swedish company will also supply 8000 safe deposit boxes in 12 different sizes: the smallest, which is perfect for storing small keepsakes, rings or watches, costs £95 p.a (including £10,000 insurance). The sophisticated security network begins with 24/7 CCTV of the perimeter and interior, with the exception of the private viewing cubicles in the vaults. ‘The CCTV is also monitored by our Knightsbridge and St John’s Wood offices,’ explains Christopher. ‘The building itself is equipped with seismic and stress detectors and the “secure area” beyond reception is protected by bullet-resistant airlock doors with magnetic and electronic locks. ‘Client access is controlled by computerverified ID and biometric fingerprint procedures and each safe deposit box (up to three people are registered to each) is opened with two unique keys – no other keys exist for that lock. If a box is re-locked, the ID process must be repeated, so ensuring a proper audit trail. Furthermore, we have our own unique security features: every box is individually alarmed and we are alerted if more than a given number are open at one time.’ Metropolitan Safe Deposits' insurers recently commissioned a rigorous review of security and staff training, making no recommendations for improvement. ‘To the best of our knowledge, this type of vault has never been breached,’ says Christopher. ‘If a system is cut off a back-up is always in place. At a time when banks are exiting the safe custody market, it is vital that independent vaults are able to provide a secure, high quality service to customers.’

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Metropolitan Safe Deposits: Maximum Security

Christopher Barrow Metropolitan Safe Deposits provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your most valuable possessions are secure While the recently opened Chiswick office of Metropolitan Safe Deposits was under construction – and it was a complex 10-month process – there was much speculation about the nature of the new arrival. Clearly, it wasn’t going to be yet another High Road coffee shop or phone store. ‘I’m not altogether surprised,’ smiles Chief Executive, Christopher Barrow. ‘Our near neighbours must have been curious about why articulated lorries were suddenly arriving with one-ton slabs of reinforced concrete. At the final count, it required 225 tons to build our two basement safe deposit box vaults.’ It’s fair to say that most people probably regard safe deposit boxes as the preserve of the super-wealthy. In fact, that’s far from the case. At its Chiswick vaults Metropolitan Safe Deposits has installed over 8000 boxes in 12 different sizes; the smallest, which is perfect for storing small keepsakes, rings or watches, is available at an annual fee of £95 (including £10,000 insurance, which can be increased to £500,000). ‘At a time when banks are exiting the safe custody market – no major bank in Chiswick has deposit boxes – we provide security at an affordable rate in world-class vaults that are protected by the most sophisticated systems,’ says Christopher. Having acquired Metropolitan Safe Deposits in 2007, Christopher initially focused on investing in the infrastructure of the company’s existing vaults in Knightsbridge and St John’s Wood. ‘We then decided to expand – and the best way forward was to build our own vaults. We noticed that many of our clients lived in West London and, after researching the options, Chiswick seemed the ideal location. This property was a new build development and, most importantly for us, we were able to negotiate a very long lease.’ Much care was devoted to the design. ‘I think the architect had to re-configure his plan 50 times before we signed it off,’ recalls Christopher. ‘The vaults are pre-fabricated by the industry’s leading manufacturer, the Swedish company Robur Safe, and they also supplied the safe deposit boxes. ‘We use multi-layered security and surveillance systems that combine the latest electronic technology, such as a biometric fingerprint-controlled access, with what has been tried and tested over many years. If one element fails, there is always a back-up in place: for example, the airlock doors, which are bullet resistant, have magnetic and electronic locks and two very strong physical locks with old-fashioned keys. ‘In addition, we have three alarm systems – each of our boxes is individually alarmed, that’s unique to us – which are linked to the police and extensive CCTV that is broadcast to and monitored by our other offices. The result is that we always know who is in a vault and which boxes are open (up to three registered people have access to each box) at any given time.’ The Chiswick team reports to Colin Mitchell, who was born and raised in Gunnersbury and has 34 years’ experience in the industry, all the staff are personally trained and CRB checked and the vaults have extended opening times (8.30am-7pm Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday). ‘We’ve already had an encouraging take up of boxes across our full spectrum of sizes,’ says Christopher. ‘To the best of our knowledge, this type of vault has never been breached – so we can combine local convenience with a modern world-class facility.’

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[keepthingslocal]

Metropolitan Safe Deposits: Peace Of Mind

Christopher Barrow Metropolitan Safe Deposits ensures your most valuable possessions are safe and secure ‘We know who, what, when and where at all times,’ smiles Christopher Barrow, Chief Executive of Metropolitan Safe Deposits. ‘Those are the critical questions in our business. From multi-layered alarm and surveillance systems to tried and tested physical security, we offer clients an affordable, convenient world-class facility.’ Metropolitan Safe Deposits opened its Chiswick office in July following a 10-month build that required 225 tons of reinforced concrete to create space for two basement vaults made by the industry’s leading manufacturer, Robur Safe. At full capacity, the Swedish company will also supply 8000 safe deposit boxes in 12 different sizes: the smallest, which is perfect for storing small keepsakes, rings or watches, costs £95 p.a (including £10,000 insurance). The sophisticated security network begins with 24/7 CCTV of the perimeter and interior, with the exception of the private viewing cubicles in the vaults. ‘The CCTV is also monitored by our Knightsbridge and St John’s Wood offices,’ explains Christopher. ‘The building itself is equipped with seismic and stress detectors and the “secure area” beyond reception is protected by bullet-resistant airlock doors with magnetic and electronic locks. ‘Client access is controlled by computerverified ID and biometric fingerprint procedures and each safe deposit box (up to three people are registered to each) is opened with two unique keys – no other keys exist for that lock. If a box is re-locked, the ID process must be repeated, so ensuring a proper audit trail. Furthermore, we have our own unique security features: every box is individually alarmed and we are alerted if more than a given number are open at one time.’ Metropolitan Safe Deposits' insurers recently commissioned a rigorous review of security and staff training, making no recommendations for improvement. ‘To the best of our knowledge, this type of vault has never been breached,’ says Christopher. ‘If a system is cut off a back-up is always in place. At a time when banks are exiting the safe custody market, it is vital that independent vaults are able to provide a secure, high quality service to customers.’

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