PA Intervention

Simon Middleton aim area manager (East) writes

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), policy was amended with specific measures being brought in from the 1st April 2008 to reduce the number of false alarms from HUA (Hold-Up Alarm) Buttons.

This change affected England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The amended Security Systems Policy stated:

The main changes to the policy were:-

Police response will be withdrawn to the HUA part of the system after a maximum of 2 false calls in a rolling 12 month period.

A method of HUA Intervention must be implemented in order to get Police response reinstated.

When a form of Intervention has been implemented, Police response may be reinstated to the HUA before the 3 month period has elapsed.

If a system subsequently loses response after Intervention has been implemented, the system must achieve three consecutive months free of false calls from the HUA supported by evidence from the security company before response is reinstated.

In many instances HUA’s are operated when there is no threat to persons within a defined area. Without knowing the circumstances under which the Hold-Up Alarms are operated, the Police must respond.

Customers must be made aware that in the current policy, if they operate their HUA twice within in a rolling twelve month period and there is no threat to persons in a defined area; they will lose police response for a period of time and be required to use a method of HUA Intervention in order to get response reinstated.

Accidental misuse happens when customers and their staff are not trained in the correct use of the HUA or visitors to the premises (including for example contract cleaners) have access to the HUA button and press it out of curiosity. It is important that the HUA button is placed where members of the public cannot have access to it and any of the customers contractors made aware of the consequences of pressing it.

Examples of intentional but non-essential operation of a HUA:

• A garage forecourt attendant operating the HUA when someone has driven off without paying for petrol.
• Shopkeeper operating the HUA because someone leaves the store without paying for goods.
• A Householder or Publican operating the HUA because they saw a fight in progress.
• A Householder who operates the HUA because they hear a suspicious noise outside.

Forms of Intervention

Call-Back Intervention whereby the Alarm Receiving Centre Operator makes a telephone call to the premises when a Hold-Up Alarm signal is received to determine if the alarm call is false or genuine.

Audio Intervention whereby the Alarm Receiving Centre Operator (before calling the Police) calls into the premises which has an Audio Confirmation system with microphones fitted in the vicinity of the Hold-Up Alarm Buttons and listens to the audio to determine if the alarm call is false or genuine.

Video Intervention whereby the Alarm Receiving Centre Operator reviews video images from site to determine if the alarm call is false or genuine.

Which Intervention method to use:

Consider the overall size and use of the premises

Call-back intervention may be suitable for a small shop, office, business premises or a home where the person answering the call-back is able to determine quickly whether or not a HUA event is genuine.

In large premises then call-back may not be suitable as the person answering the call-back may not be in the area where a genuine attack is taking place.

aim recommends audio intervention to it’s installer customers for large systems and dial back for small systems.

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