To help us provide you with the most accurate estimate, we’ll ask a few detailed questions. Thank you for your time and understanding – it really helps us get things right from the start.
For urgent support, please call our team.
Call on 0161 820 0650
To help us provide you with the most accurate estimate, we’ll ask a few detailed questions. Thank you for your time and understanding – it really helps us get things right from the start.
For urgent support, please call our team.
Call on 0161 820 0650
Police Response to Monitored Burglar Alarms
When it comes to protecting your property, having your burglar alarm monitored by a professional Alarm Receiving Centre that is backed with police response can give no better reassurance.
POLICE RESPONSE TO Burglar ALARMS
When it comes to protecting your property, having your alarm monitored by a professional Alarm Receiving Centre that is backed with police response can give no better reassurance.
Can an alarm be directly linked to the police?
Alarms cannot be directly connected to the emergency services, which is in order to prevent false alarms; therefore, signals must first be transmitted to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) where security professionals will firstly validate the alert to help prevent a false alarm. Once the checks have been completed, the ARC notify the police for them to take action.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provide police response for approved Alarm Receiving Centres and reserve the right to withdraw police response in particular circumstances. The main cause for response withdrawal is when a premises provides numerous false alarms, which would waste the time of the emergency services.
Response levels
Police put responses into three different levels, with level 1 being the highest and level 3 being the lowest:
Level 1:
A full police response will be provided in the event of an alarm being confirmed by the Alarm Receiving Centre.
Level 2:
Most police forces no longer use this level, but where used a police response will be provided only if resources allow it.
Level 3:
This is the lowest tier and requires a member of the public to inform the police of a potential crime. The actual response level is the same whether the building has alarms or not, but alarms will certainly increase the chance of a crime being noticed.
If an alarm on Level 1 triggers three different false alarms in the space of twelve months, then the alarm system will be downgraded to Level 3. To get back to Level 1 there will be a three-month hiatus in which the system will need to be upgraded to help prevent false alarms in the future.
A police response alternative
An alternative solution to an Alarm Receiving Centre backed with police response is for keyholders to check the premises in the event of an alarm being triggered. Once the alarm has been verified, emergency services can be alerted.
If your keyholders are not able to make checks in the event of an activated alarm, hiring a security professional to act as a keyholder and check the property can be a great option. This is ideal for properties that have only a few keyholders who are not necessarily always available to check on the property. A professional keyholder can not only respond to alarms, but can also check the condition of the property when vacant to prevent any potential damage from leaks or electrical faults.
Burglar Alarms with Police Response
Frequently asked questions
Is police response provided to any burglar alarm activation?
No. Police response is only provided to alarm systems that are professionally monitored by an approved Alarm Receiving Centre.
How does an Alarm Receiving Centre contact emergency services?
An Alarm Receiving centre does not actually call 999 but instead has a direct connection to Force Control Rooms. The ARC will provide the type of alarm and the Unique Reference Number that will provide the emergency services with all the relevant details for your premises. This helps to minimise any delay for the emergency service response as they are not having to collect details of the incident over the phone.
Do the police have the resources to respond to alarm activations?
The emergency services still work to respond to alarm activations that are ARC monitored. If a member of the public reports a bell ringing or an app alert then the police may potentially not respond.
Will there be a fee to have a Unique Reference Number?
To acquire a Unique Reference Number (URN) there is a fee that will need to be paid; however, a Unique Reference Number is a worthwhile investment that lasts for the system’s lifetime. It is worth noting that the police can withdraw the URN in the event of numerous false alarms, although if the issue with the system is located and rectified then the URN can be restored.
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Over the years, our Manchester alarm installers have protected thousands of homeowners and businesses with our intelligent alarms. Whether you're looking for a home alarm or a commercial-grade system for your business, our Manchester team are here to help.
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Protecting both homeowners and businesses across Greater Manchester
From new alarm installations to maintenance and 24-hour alarm monitoring, Strongbox Security is here to assist you with whatever your security concerns may be. We work across the Greater Manchester area in places such as:
To help us provide you with the most accurate estimate, we’ll ask a few detailed questions. Thank you for your time and understanding – it really helps us get things right from the start.
For urgent support, please call our team.
Call on 0161 820 0650
To help us provide you with the most accurate estimate, we’ll ask a few detailed questions. Thank you for your time and understanding – it really helps us get things right from the start.
For urgent support, please call our team.
Call on 0161 820 0650
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