The increasing number of security alarm systems now in use has brought with it a corresponding increase in the number of false alarms. As many of these systems use comunicators to ensure Police response, the Police have tightened their rules relating to false alarms and the level of response they give.

If an alarm system produces two false alarms in a rolling twelve month period, the Police will downgrade their response. If five false alarms are produced during a twelve month rolling period, they will stop responding all together until the system has been free of false alarms for three months.

Furthermore, the Police will refuse to accept any system for comunicator response unless it produces verified, or confirmed alarms. This requires that an alarm activation be confirmed by more than one detector before the Alarm Receiving Centre passes it on to the Police.

There are a variety of methods available to allow a system to produce such confirmed activations.

A basic system using such detectors as passive infra-red detectors, door switches, window contacts etc. will not be regarded as confirmed unless at least two such detectors are triggered.

Audio Monitoring

A basic system can be enhanced by using audio detectors alongside the normal pir's etc. This will allow the Alarm Receiving Centre staff to listen to what is happening in the premises when an alarm call is received.

When an alarm is triggered by a system using CCTV cameras, the Alarm Receiving Centre staff can actually watch what is happening inside the premises, thus confirming whether the alarm is genuine or false.

Most Police Forces are imposing these requirements in order to help reduce their workload and to allow them to give the necessary levels of response to genuine calls. We at Arm Alarms, having been used to working within these guidelines since their inception, recognise how important it is to prevent false alarms by installing only top quality components in accordance with the relevant British and European standards. We also carry out planned maintenance of all systems contracted to us carefully, thoroughly and regularly as required by these standards.

Our continued accreditation by the SSAIB is your guarantee that we continue to match and exceed these requirements.