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ACPO 2006 A General Guide

ACPO 2006 / ACPOS (SCOTLAND)

(Association of Chief Police Officers / SCOTLAND)

SECURITY SYSTEM POLICY (ENGLAND WALES and SCOTLAND) - THE BASIC GUIDE

The ACPO Alarm and Security System policies were introduced to cut the vast waste of police time in responding to false alarm calls. At the time of introduction 98% + of alarm calls to the police were false, and no limit was placed on the number of false alarms generated by alarm systems

The ACPO policy resulted in alarm companies being placed on an approved list after satisfying the police that they had reached minimum standards of service to their clients, and could take measures to reduce false alarms. A limit on allowable false alarms was also introduced, which culminated in the removal of police response for systems exceeding the limit.

The introduction of this policy reduced the average false alarm rate to around 90 to 93%-a reduction, but not a great one!

Most police forces implemented the ACPO 2000 Security System Policy in April 2001. It replaced the old Alarms Policy, which covered mainly Intruder Alarms. The new policy has been expanded to cover future security systems including CCTV and Vehicle Tracking Alarm Systems (NOT NOW!) and other security systems as they develop. The current policy is ACPO 2007.

Presently, a (ONE OFF) fee of around £45.00 inc. VA.T is charged for the issue of a URN, UNIQUE REFERENCE NUMBER This is levied to partly offset the cost of administering the Police Security Management System. (If you pay the fee to the alarm company, to pay on your behalf, you will only pay the flat fee-no VAT.they can reclaim VAT if they are registered)

The policy is more stringent than the policy it replaces, as it lowers the limits allowed on false alarms, and adds a new requirement of Alarm CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION), on all new systems installed after October 2001.(Scotland is more generous-see ACPOS in this section)

CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION) means that an independent method of detection is fitted to verify that the detection device activating the alarm system has been triggered by an intrusion, and is not just a false alarm.

CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION) is a requirement for the reinstatement of any existing system that has lost police response see CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION)

All new systems installed after October 1st, 2001, must be confirmed systems (contain confirmation technology)

The major change in the new policy is the warning and cut off threshold for security systems.

The LATEST (2006) policy means that a security system will receive a warning letter on the 2nd false alarm in a 12-month rolling period. Stating that a lower response may be given to subsequent alarm calls from the premises.

If a 3rd false alarm (2 on PERSONAL ATTACK calls) is received, the subscriber is given notice that police response will be withdrawn. The old policy stated that after at least 3 months free from false alarms, response may be restored, the new policy does not allow this.

If a system is now cut off from Police response because of 3 (2) false alarms,in a 12 month rolling period, police response will not be restored until a system of CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION)is added to the system. The interpretation of the policy differs between forces, but in most areas, police response will be restored immediately when a CONFIRMATION (VERIFICATION) method is fitted to the existing system, whether built in or bolt on. Other forces still insist on a 3-month cut-off period.

The ACPO 2007 policy is expected to grow with changes in technology, and was not expected to start a major lowering of false alarms for at least a year. It has in fact resulted in a significant, ongoing drop in false alarms to the police.

The latest versions of the policy can be found on the ACPO /NSI /SSAIB /BSIA web sites.Also on many local police force sites.(see USEFUL ADDRESSES)

ACPOS SECURITY SYSTEM POLICY (SCOTLAND)

The Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland have also implemented a false alarm policy to commence on June 3rd 2002. The Policy is more generous than the English, Northern Ireland and Welsh Policy. A relevant section of the policy is as follows---See Scots Police Web Site under USEFUL ADDRESSES for complete policy--

5. POLICE RESPONSE

5.1 The police response to security system activation’s will be on three levels: LEVEL 1 - priority LEVEL 2 - police attendance desirable but will be dependent on resource availability LEVEL 3 - no police response – keyholder only

5.3 Level 1 response to a monitored system will not be guaranteed indefinitely. Following four false calls in a 12 month period, or shorter, the police response will be reduced to Level 2 and the customer and the installer/Alarm Company will be informed in writing. The customer then has three months from date of letter to rectify and stabilise their system and at the end of which period, if free from activations, they may apply in writing for reinstatement to Level 1

5.3 If a further three false activations are received within the same 12 month period following reduction to Level 2, police response may be reduced to Level 3 and attendance withdrawn completely. A customer and the installer will then be informed in writing and the installing/Alarm company will be required to inform the ARC not to pass alarm messages to the police.

6. RESTORATION OF POLICE RESPONSE

6.1 Only when the police are satisfied that the alarm is operating efficiently, will police response be upgraded to Level 1.

7. PERSONAL ATTACK ALARMS

7.1 A personal attack alarm may be operated as part of a security system to summon urgent police assistance when persons within premises are under immediate attack or threatened attack.

7.2 A personal attack system, which conforms to the agreed monitoring standards, will attract Level 1 response. When misuse of the system is identified (7 non attack incidents) in a twelve-month period, response may be downgraded to Level 3. This will be considered after a full risk assessment on the premises in question has been undertaken by the police.

7.3 Following withdrawal, reinstatement will be considered following a further detailed risk assessment. No time limit will be set for reinstatement of level 1 response."(For full policy see under Scottish Police Forces--USEFUL ADDRESSES-ACPOS POLICIES0

2007 Policy is enforced by almost 100% of British police forces. However every police force has its own differing requirements. The Appendix A is the place to check regional variations. (See your local force under USEFUL ADDRESSES-send an e-mail if the policy is not shown) then look under ACPO POLICY The latest updates are also available on http://www.bsia.co.uk