Get a Police Response to your Alarm in the Bristol Region

Alarms in Bristol, Bath, Somerset and South Glos

To feel completely secure, many people specify a police response when they install or update their burglar alarms (and likewise a fire brigade response when they install or update their fire alarm systems). Getting a police response is subject to several conditions being met and this page aims to explain what it is that you need and why.

To get a guaranteed police response to your alarm, you need:

an alarm installing company that is recognised by the NSI or SSAIB
an alarm monitoring contract with dual path signalling
an alarm maintenance contract
an alarm system that is of the correct grade to match the risk to your property

Association of Chief Police Officers Regulations
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has stipulated that police will only attend alarms that have been installed or are maintained by NSI or SSAIB approved companies. This is because companies approved by these bodies are externally audited and fit alarms to EN50131/PD6662/DD243 standards, making them more reliable than most. Standfast Security Systems is approved by the NSI to Gold Standard and is registered with local police forces.

Police Respond to Reliable Alarm Systems
The police have come across so many false alarms that they have had to introduce a policy for alarm attendance. You can view the Avon and Somerset Constabulary 2010 policy on attending alarms here. The basic idea is that if you have more than three false alarms for any reason in a year, the police will not attend thereafter and will require an administration fee to be paid (£48.62) and proof of improved performance in order to start to respond to the alarm again.

This means that alarm maintenance is also important to your guarantee of police response. Standfast Security Systems offers three levels of alarm maintenance contract in the Bristol area.

Alarm Monitoring or Confirmed Sighting for a Police Response
As more people work away from home these days, there is less likelihood of your alarm being reported by neighbours to the police. It makes sense to get your alarm monitored so that in the event of a confirmed activation, the alarm receiving centre (ARC) will inform keyholders and the police so that someone will attend your property quickly. A confirmed activation either means that the ARC has detected two zones of activation or that there is a visual confirmation from someone outside the property that there is a burglary taking place. Alarm monitoring has reduced in price considerably and there are several options available.

Types of Alarm Signalling
When you specify alarm monitoring, you can choose the type of signalling system you wish to install. Alarm signals are sent to the ARC if electricity fails, lines are cut or the alarm is activated in another manner. The different types of alarm signalling offer different levels of security and vary in price.

The alarm signalling types use either one or two pathways to communicate with the ARC. The dual path signalling systems are more secure than the single path ones and these are the ones specified by police for a response from them.

Standfast Security Systems offers:

Audible internal and external sounder systems – single path communicators
Digital communicators – single path communicators work via a telephone line. The line is not monitored continuously
Redcare – single path – uses a BT land line but monitors it continuously to check that it is operating and reports to the ARC if there is a problem with the line
Redcare GSM – dual path – uses only a BT line and the 02 network
Dualcom GPRS – dual path - uses any telephone line and the Vodafone network

Standfast Security Systems recommends Dualcom GPRS as being the most secure and best value for money and is happy to discuss your requirements for any of the above systems.

For all Bristol alarms enquiries, please contact us via the web form, email Philip Dadd or ring us on 0117 9423366.