A.C.P.O. 2001
For
many years, Police Forces have looked at ways of reducing the drain on
their limited resources caused by false alarm activations.
The A.C.P.O. Policy has recently been amended in order to further reduce
the number of false alarms that are passed for Police attendance.
The
main areas of change are as follows: -
New Alarm System Installations
1.
New alarm systems installed from 01/10/01 that require Police attendance
are to incorporate 'confirmation' technology thereby enhancing the credibility
of alarm activations passed to the Police.
a)
Sequential Confirmation
In order to achieve sequentially confirmed status there must be evidence
that at least two separate alarm conditions have been reported to the
Monitoring Control Room, each originating from an independent detector.
This provides evidence that someone is either: -
i)
Moving in two (or more) areas within the protected premises or
ii) Breaching perimeter protection then moving in a subsequent
area within the premises.
Sensors,
detectors and processors are not regarded as being independent unless
each sends a separate signal to the control equipment.
b)
Audio Verification
A number of microphones are installed within the protected premises.
Upon receipt of an alarm activation the Control Room operator will dial
into the system and 'listen in' to the premises in an attempt to confirm
that a break-in is in progress
The system allows the operator to listen to a recording for a period of
30 seconds before the activation occurs and the subsequent period.
If the operator hears noises that confirm an intrusion has occurred, then
the Police would be notified.
If the operator does not hear anything, then the keyholder (only) is notified
and asked to attend.
b)
Visual Verification
A number of Closed Circuit Television System cameras are installed within
the protected premises.
Upon receipt of an alarm activation the Control Room operator will dial
into the system and view the premises via the camera(s).
If the operator sees that an intrusion is in progress then 'confirmed'
status is reached and the Police would be notified.
If the operator does not see anything out of the ordinary then the keyholder
(only) is notified and asked to attend.
Police
Response Revised Parameters
If the Police Response to the alarm system is required then the following
procedures must be followed:-
An application has to be forwarded to the Police requesting that they
issued a Unique Reference Number (U.R.N.) for your system. This application
must include details of your keyholders and your cheque, payable to the
Police, for the sum of £30.00. We will forward an application package
to you upon receipt of your order.
Upon
completion of the installation work the signalling transmitter is connected
to the Monitoring Control Room for a test period of not less than 14 days.
This is to comply with NACOSS Code Of Practice NACP14 and ACPO Policy.
LEVEL
1
Immediate Response.
LEVEL
2 Response desirable but attendance may be delay.
LEVEL
3 No Police Response - keyholder only.
All
systems commence at Level 1, however if 2 false calls are generated (in
any rolling 12 month period) Response is lowered to Level 2. Following
5 false calls (again in a rolling 12 month period) then Level 3 would
apply.
Please note that if false alarms persist then the Police may withdraw
your U.R.N. number.
A
false alarm free period of 3 months would be required before any request
can be made to re-instate the system to a higher level of Response.
How Will The New A.C.P.O. Policy Effect Existing Alpha Alarms Customers?
From the 01/04/01 following withdrawal of Police Response, Response may only be restored following 3 months free of false calls? To restore Response the Alarm Company shall apply in writing to the Chief Officer Of Police, supported by evidence that the system has been free of false calls, that the original cause has been rectified and the system has been upgraded so that only calls identified as confirmed may be passed to the Police. After Response is resumed only activations that have been confirmed will be passed on for the Police attendance. Should the level of false calls result in the restoration of Response being delayed for more than 6 months the U.R.N. will be deleted and the occupier will be advised in writing.
A charge of £30.00 will be payable directly to the Police (by the end user) for each U.R.N. re-application.
The alarm system may require updating in order to provide confirmed activations therefore a re-survey of the premises would be necessary to establish which type of confirmation technology would be most suitable for each application.
