Alarms
Policy
Policy summary
West Yorkshire Police complies with Authorised Professional Practice (APP) which contains information to assist policing, and has
established a local policy procedure on alarms to provide clear standards and guidelines.
This policy procedure details:
• the police response which can be expected to an electronic security system identified in the ACPO “Requirements for Security System Services”; and
• how and when police temporary alarms can be used.
Aim The aims of this policy procedure are to explain: • the types of alarm systems;
• alarm classifications;
• graded planned response; and
• how temporary alarms can be installed in cases of: • repeat victimisation;
• witness protection; or
• child protection and domestic abuse.
Scope This policy procedure applies to all police officers and police staff.
Compliance APP Intelligence management
ACPO guidance on the police response to security systems
Chapter 1
Definitions
Permanent alarms
Permanent alarm systems are classified into two types: • Type A – remote signalling alarms (those linked to an alarm
receiving centre – ARC); and • Type B – those that are not linked.
Temporary alarms
'Temporary alarms' include all equipment historically known as: • Home Office alarms;
• bleepers;
• crime prevention alarms; • radio alarms; and
• panic alarms.
There are two basic types:
Alarm Description
personal attack
is installed in premises for the protection of person(s) within or in the immediate vicinity of those premises. Generally, the alarm has to be manually operated by the potential victim (e.g. by pressing a button). This will activate a silent alarm, which will be passed by the monitoring station to the relevant despatch centre which is responsible for directing resources in accordance with the details contained in the Form 4 completed by the officer in case (OIC).
The personal attack alarm is active 24 hours a day. intruder is installed in or around premises for the purpose of
detecting the presence of intruders.
The alarm can be set and unset by users of the
premises and in some circumstances by police officers. The alarm technician will provide further information at the time of installation.
The alarm can be an independent system or use an existing electronic security system (subject to quality). Using an existing system is likely to involve a third party carrying out preparatory work (e.g. a commercial alarm company). We will not pay any costs incurred from the preparatory work.
On activation of the alarm, a silent signal will be received by the monitoring station and then passed to the relevant despatch centre which is responsible for directing resources in accordance with the details contained in the Form 4 completed by the OIC.
Chapter 2
Principles
Alarm activations
A police response is provided to premises which are equipped with a Type A accredited alarm system.
Use of
personal and intruder alarms
Personal and intruder alarms can be installed as a combination. Temporary alarms should not replace or reduce present or proposed levels of security. You should not promise the installation of a temporary alarm without consulting an authorising inspector.
Do not consider a temporary alarm in isolation, you should also use all other useful agencies and resources.
The installation of an alarm does not absolve you from continuing to investigate the crime or taking other appropriate action.
Chapter 3
Criteria
Permanent
Alarm
requirements
A planned response is conditional on the intruder alarm system complying with the:
• requirements of the relevant British Standards; and • Force alarm policy.
Keyholders Each system provided with a planned response needs to comply with
the following criteria in respect of keyholders: • minimum of two;
• each must be on the telephone; and
• each with own transport and able to attend the premises within 20 minutes of activation.
Withdrawal Withdrawal of our response to alarm activations, is covered in the
ACPO guidance on the police response to security systems. Generally, the withdrawal of response will be as a result of false alarms reaching an unacceptable level (generally three false calls in a rolling twelve month period).
Temporary
Options available
Temporary alarms are a temporary measure and you should only use them if no alternative options are available to enable the victim or potential victim to contact the police in the event of an emergency. Options other than the installation of a temporary alarm are:
• TecSOS handset (issued by trained safeguarding officers only); • Care Ring;
• Sanctuary Scheme (target hardening); • issuing a pre-paid mobile phone; or • fitting a permanent alarm.
If you consider that a potential threat will or may remain for more than 60 days, you should take other measures to protect the potential victim.
Personal attack alarm
You should only consider a personal attack alarm in situations where it is the only practical means of obtaining rapid police intervention and protecting of the potential victim.
Installing a personal attack alarm will always take priority over any other type of alarm. This will usually take place within 24 hours. Where appropriate, you should consult the Witness Support Unit before further arrangements are made.
You should consider:
No. Risk assessment considerations
1 the background and history of the assailant or suspect; 2 previous incidents including, the frequency, level of
violence, threats made and ability to carry them out;
3 the vulnerability of the potential victim and other occupants of the premises;
4 the physical security of the premises;
5 other viable means of communicating with the police; 6 the ability of the potential victim or other person to operate
the alarm; and
7 any other relevant influencing factors or intelligence.
Intruder alarm You should only consider an intruder alarm in situations where our response, to activation, is practical and likely to result in an arrest. You should consider:
No. Risk assessment considerations
1 is it cost effective use of police resources and does the use fall within district and Force objectives and priorities;
2 how reliable is the available crime intelligence;
3 are there contra indicators regarding previous installations of a temporary alarm at those premises;
4 how secure is the alarm equipment and will confidentiality be kept;
5 can the alarm be used correctly, having regard to the number of legitimate users of the premises, the competency and availability of key holders and their ability to control use of the alarm;
6 have the other security measures already been taken; 7 do we have the co-operation of the users for installation,
service and removal; and
8 have the occupants or users of the premises, criminal backgrounds or associations that would compromise the installation.
Costs for reinstallation
When a temporary alarm is removed from a location, but is returned to that same location, or installed for the same complainant at a different location, within a period of 60 days, the district requesting the
reinstallation will meet all the reinstallation costs.
Admin Last reviewed: May 2015 Scheduled for review: May 2018
