Spotlight on Alarms 

 

INTRODUCTION

Victoria Police will continue striving to improveservice delivery and will still respond to calls for assistance from the public.
This is a joint initiative between Victoria Police and the Private Security Industry aimed at improving reporting protocols for those alarms that are monitored by private companies.
This will reduce the number of times police attend monitored alarms that are found to be unwanted.

WHAT is happening with alarms?

Alarm Monitoring Companies have adopted a new set of industry standards and procedures that will involve:

• upgrading of equipment to meet Australian Standards (AS) 2201; and 
• verification of activated alarms before they ring police. 

When Alarm Monitoring Companies do call for police attendance, there is now a streamlined set of procedures for dispatching the task to a patrol unit.

When police receive a call from an Alarm Monitoring Company, it will be because there is a high likelihood that a an offence has been committed, and police attendance will be given the appropriate priority.

WHY are these changes being made?

Police attendance at unwanted alarms wastes a considerable amount of valuable time and resources, and hinders police in being able to quickly respond to emergencies. Unwanted alarms also cost Alarm Monitoring Companies (and their clients) time and money.

WHO will these changes affect?

These new procedures only apply to monitored alarm systems. Owners of monitored alarm systems should ensure their service provider complies with the new procedures.
Only Monitored alarms in the Melbourne and Greater Geelong metropolitan areas will be affected. Theses changes assist police, but they mainly affect the operations of Alarm Monitoring Companies and their customers. However, the general community can also help by:

• Installing a suitable alarm system (one that complies with relevant Australian Standards), and asking the supplier 'who will provide response services?' when the alarm is activated. 
• properly maintaining the alarm system and ( if monitored reporting ) reporting any faults  to the Monitoring Company. 
• Promptly notifying the Monitoring Company if any unintentional activations of the alarm. 
• Properly maintaining after-hours contact records with Alarm Monitoring Companies 
• If an audible alarm is installed, requesting neighbours to be vigilant to anything suspicious. 

Victoria Police and private security industry are looking at local unmonitored audible alarms.

Police procedures for local unmonitored audible alarms will not change for the time being, but police attendance will continue to depend upon the public's vigilance, their willingness to call police, and the availability of responding units.

WHAT to look for in a good alarm

Many sophisticated alarms include components such as:

• Volumetric detectors that determine intrusion by movement or sound. 
• Magnetic reed switches that are activated when an electric circuit is broken 
• 'Panic' buttons/switches/keypads/portable devices, etc that can be quickly, manually activated in times of duress. 

However, good alarm systems will comply with the relevant sections of Australian Standard (AS) 2201. The following are some key items of this requirement:

• Standby backup battery with a minimum capacity of 48 hours for a local unmonitored audible alarm and a minimum capacity of 4 hours for a monitored alarm. 
• Automatic rechargeable batteries 
• Tamper protection on all detection and warning devices. 
• Concealed or protected wiring. 
• Routine maintenance of the system 
• Operating procedure instructions 
• Weekly testing of the alarm system by the user. 

If a monitored alarm service is chosen, the Company's monitoring station should comply with AS 2201, and its technicians should be available 24 hours every day of the year. Also, the Company should belong to a recognised Industry Association (one of the organisations whose emblems appear in this brochure).

WHAT are the benefits?

Owners of monitored alarms will be more aware of the operations of their alarm system and the relationship with their service provider, which will lead to less inadvertently activated alarms and greater peace of mind.

Alarm Monitoring Companies will provide a more reliable and responsive service, with equipment that meets Australian Standards, and procedures that will minimise the likelihood of police being called to unwanted alarms.

Police will have more resources available to respond to incidents where the public requires their urgent assistance. This will result in a better quality police service to the community.