Police Requirements for Burglar Alarms with Remote Monitoring

With effect from 1st October 2001, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have implemented additional procedures regarding the way the police handle and respond to all alarm systems installed after that date. A brief summary of the main police requirements is listed below for your information.

Police requirements now means that Police response will only be given to confirmed signals. Unconfirmed signals will only be able to be passed to key holders.

Confirmed signals can be achieved in one of two ways:

1. Sequential Confirmation - The first detector to activate generates an unconfirmed signal, and if a different detector activates within 30 minutes, this sends a confirmed signal which can be passed to the police.
2. Audio Confirmation - When the first detector activates the monitoring company listens in to microphones installed on site to determine the cause of the activation. If noises associated with burglary are heard the call will be passed to the police as confirmed. If not, only the key holders will be notified.

Police Response

Normal police response is level 1 (immediate). As part of the police requirements if 2 false calls are passed to the police within a rolling 12 month period, the response is reduced to level 2 (attendance may be delayed by other priorities). If false calls continue and 5 are passed to the police within a rolling 12 months, response is reduced to level 3 (no response). Systems on level 2 or 3 response will be reinstated to level 1 after 3 months without further activations.

The police now charge £30 including VAT for the issue of (or amendment to) a unique reference number (URN) which must be quoted by the monitoring company to obtain a police response. The police also require a simple risk assessment form to be completed by the occupier of the protected premises, which is to be sent with the URN application.

ACPO2000 and DD243

Giving due consideration to the latest ACPO policy and regarding monitored alarm systems we now strongly recommend the installation of additional detection to achieve "structured" layers of detection to generate confirmed signals, or for the installation of audio verification microphones, together with remote monitoring systems such as Redcare GSM or DualCom as this type of system is dual path and will provide the best possibility of keeping Police response in the long term whilst ensuring alarm signals are received by the alarm receiving centre (ARC). If you have any doubts about this and wish to discuss the benefits further, please do not hesitate to contact us or, possibly consult and discuss the issue with your insurer.

Setting and Un-setting Procedures

ACPO 2000 and DD243 require that one of the 5 procedures listed below is used to minimise the risk of false alarms:

1. Opening the entry door starts entry/timer and switches off confirmation.
2. The system is armed and disarmed by a portable transmitter.
3. Locking/unlocking entry door sets and un-sets system.
4. Unlocking the entry door disables confirmation.
5. Setting and un-setting is undertaken in conjunction with the ARC by means of a pre-arranged procedure.

Further information can be obtained from contacting our Office.