Police Response to Intruder Alarms

As a result of the high number of false alarms (the national average in 2005 was 92%) the Police will no longer respond automatically when a burglar alarm is triggered.

The Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) guidelines have been updated from 1st April 2006.

Here is a summary of what that means:

If you just have a bell or siren, but no link to a response centre, the Police will only consider attending if someone confirms they have witnessed a burglary taking place
If your intruder alarm system was installed before 1st October 2001, the Police will only respond to a response centre call as long as there have not been three false alarms in the last 12 months
Systems installed since 1st October 2001 have to incorporate Alarm Confirmation Technology. This essentially provides additional confirmation that a burglary is taking place, through a number of options:
- Sequential Confirmation - An activation from two or more independent sensors or detectors.
- Audio Confirmation - An activation confirmed by the Monitoring Centre operator having listened in to the premises,
- Visual Confirmation - An activation confirmed by the Monitoring Centre operator having interpreted a visual image transmitted from the protected premises
The Police recognise two types of alarm system.

Type A - Remote Signalling Alarms includes intruder alarms terminating at Approved Central Monitoring Stations. They must be maintained and used in accordance with British Standard 4737, BS 7042 (high security systems) or BS 6799 Class VI (wire-free alarms). These alarms will be registered with the police and identified by a unique reference number (URN) and can include personal attack alarms.
The police security alarm response to activation of the above alarms will be based on the assumption that an offence is taking place, but subject to attending competing urgent calls and available police resources.
Such a response will also be conditional upon the number of your previous false activations in any 12 month period, when the current activation may receive a lower priority police attendance, or total withdrawal of response.
Type B - Audible Only and Hybrid Alarms includes bells-only and automatic dialling alarms, as well as alarms from non-compliant companies and non-compliant central monitoring stations. Unique reference numbers will not be issued for these systems.

So to obtain police attendance when activated, Type B alarms will also require some proof that a criminal offence is in progress, e.g. a report from someone witnessing a break in.

To download the full guidelines please click here.

To discuss the most suitable system for your requirements, please call 01992 701950, contact us or e-mail enquiries@sectorguard.plc.uk.