Many business owners assume that if an alarm goes off, the police will come. In reality, police response to alarms in the UK is conditional. It depends on how the system was installed, how it is monitored and how well it behaves. Here is how it works in plain terms. Rules are set by individual police forces and can change, so always confirm the current position with your installer.
The basics: you need an approved installer and monitoring
For police to consider responding, your alarm normally needs to be:
- installed and maintained by an installer recognised by the police, for example one approved by the NSI or SSAIB;
- connected to an approved alarm receiving centre (ARC), which checks the signal and contacts the police;
- registered with the police, which gives the site a unique reference number (URN);
- designed to the relevant standards, which for current systems means BS EN 50131, PD 6662 and BS 8243.
A simple bells-only alarm, or a smart system that only sends you a phone notification, is not normally eligible for a police response on its own.
What is a confirmed alarm?
To cut down on false calls, police response generally depends on alarm confirmation. Confirmation is usually achieved when a second, separate detection device is triggered during the same intrusion. A single movement detector going off is not enough on its own. Some systems also use audio or video verification to help confirm an event.
This is why the layout of detectors matters. A well designed system is arranged so that a real intruder is very likely to trigger more than one device, and so that normal activity does not.
What happens when the alarm activates
- The panel sends a signal to the ARC.
- The ARC operator assesses the signals and tries to confirm the alarm.
- If it is confirmed and your system is eligible, the ARC passes the alarm to the police.
- The ARC also contacts your keyholders so someone can attend and secure the building.
False alarms and losing response
Police forces have limited resources and take false alarms seriously. As a general rule, response can be withdrawn after a certain number of false alarms within a rolling twelve month period. The current guidance published by the NSI refers to three false calls. Response can normally be reinstated once the cause has been investigated and remedial work has been done.
The most common causes are user error (for example, not exiting in time), poorly placed or ageing detectors, pets and insects, and low batteries on wireless devices. Regular maintenance and good training cut false alarms dramatically.
Scotland and other variations
Police Scotland has its own policy and requirements, and individual forces in England and Wales apply the national policy locally. Check the position for your area.
Insurance
Insurers often set their own conditions: a graded system, an approved installer, a maintenance contract and the alarm being set when the premises are empty. If a policy requires the alarm to be fully operational and it was not set at the time of a break-in, a claim may be affected. Always read the security conditions in your policy.
If you are not sure whether your existing system qualifies, or you are planning a new one, our team can review it for you. See our intruder alarm service, or read what a business alarm costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a police URN?
A Unique Reference Number is issued to an alarm system that meets the police requirements. It identifies your site to the police and the monitoring centre, and is needed to request a police response.
What is a confirmed alarm?
A confirmed alarm is where more than one detection device is triggered during the same intrusion, which makes a genuine break-in much more likely. Police response is normally given to confirmed alarms rather than a single trigger.
What happens if I have repeated false alarms?
Police response can be withdrawn after repeated false alarms in a set period. It can usually be reinstated once the cause has been identified and fixed.