Conclusion

Choosing the right grade of alarm system is essential for both security and compliance with insurance requirements. Homeowners and business owners should consult with accredited professionals to design an alarm system that not only meets legal and insurance standards but also effectively protects against potential intrusions. By understanding these classifications and requirements, you can ensure that your property is adequately secured and that you remain compliant with insurance policies.

Understanding Police Response Requirements for Alarm Systems

When it comes to installing an alarm system that involves police response, there are specific requirements and processes involved that every homeowner should understand. Here’s a detailed overview of how these systems work and what you need to do to ensure your alarm system complies with police response standards.

Police Response and Alarm Monitoring

Police response for alarm systems is not direct; instead, it's facilitated through an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). Here's how the process generally works:

• Monitoring: The alarm system is continuously monitored by the ARC, which is responsible for all communications and alerts.
• Alarm Activation: Upon an alarm trigger, the ARC receives and analyzes the signals from the alarm. If the activation meets the necessary criteria for a genuine intrusion, the ARC will take action.
• Police Notification: The ARC does not immediately contact the police for every alarm. Instead, they verify the necessity of police involvement based on predefined criteria. If police intervention is deemed necessary, the ARC will notify the police, providing a Unique Reference Number (URN) specific to your property.

Applying for a URN

What is a URN?: A URN is a Unique Reference Number assigned to your alarm system, linking it to your specific property and ensuring that police can quickly verify and respond to alerts from your ARC.

How to Apply?: The application for a URN is typically handled by your alarm installation company. This is a crucial step in setting up a police response alarm system.

Cost and Timeframe: The cost for applying for a URN for intruder alarms is £45.66 plus VAT, which totals to £54.79. For combined Intruder Alarm/Hold-Up Alarm systems, the cost is £91.32 plus VAT, totaling £109.58. Applications generally take about 10 working days to process.

Police Response Levels in the UK

Level 1 Response: This is an immediate response category, where the police will respond as soon as they can, based on their operational priorities.

Level 3 Response: At this level, police response has been withdrawn due to the alarm system being deemed unreliable, usually after multiple false alarms.

Maintenance and Inspections

Annual Contract: Alarm systems eligible for police response must have an annual maintenance contract, which includes at least two system inspections per year.

Remote Inspections: With advancements in technology, one of these inspections may be conducted remotely, using offsite access equipment to check the system's integrity.

Downgrades and Reinstatements

System Downgrade: If your alarm system causes three false alarms within a twelve-month period, it may be downgraded from Level 1 to Level 3, meaning that police response will be withdrawn.

Reinstatement: To have a downgraded system reinstated to Level 1, the system must demonstrate stability over a period, showing that the issues causing false alarms have been resolved.

Importance of Compliance

It is crucial to inform your insurance company if your system's response level has been downgraded. Failure to do so may affect your insurance cover, potentially leading to higher premiums or invalidated claims should a break-in occur while the system is downgraded.

By ensuring your alarm system meets these requirements, you not only enhance the security of your property but also ensure that in the event of an actual emergency, police response is swift and effective.

The Impact of Alarm Systems on Home Contents Insurance Policies

Alarm systems are a critical component in securing homes and can significantly impact the terms and costs of your home contents insurance. Here’s how the presence of an alarm system might affect your insurance, especially in relation to the value of your property and the area where you live.

Factors Influencing Alarm Requirements

• Location: The requirement for an alarm system often depends on the crime rate in your area. Higher crime areas may necessitate more stringent security measures.
• Value of Contents and High-Risk Items: Insurers assess the value of the contents and specific high-value items you own (like jewelry). The higher the value, the more likely an alarm system will be required as part of the insurance policy.

Examples of Alarm Requirements by Area and Value

Colchester: An alarm might not be required until the contents sum insured reaches approximately £200,000 or if there is jewelry worth over £50,000.
London: A lower threshold due to higher risk, with alarms typically required for £150,000 in contents or £30,000 in jewelry value.

Impact on high value properties

In the High Net worth (HNW) world, alarms are certainly more of a requirement and more popular.

Again, these are triggered by total value of contents and/or valuables and/or area.

Other security is also taken into account in this market, like CCTV, safes, security gates etc.

As a minimum requirement, the intruder system would need to be professionally monitored (usually dual path) with an annual maintenance contract to attract a discount (around 5-10%). Additional discounts can be earned for BT RedCare alarms (additional 2.5%). When coupled with other security measures, these discounts can be a little bigger.

London is a good area to use as an example as crime/burglary rates are higher. In the HNW market a property in London with £150k contents would require a monitored/maintained alarm system whereas Norfolk, for example, would not require one until contents exceeded £250k.