About the ACPO 2005 Policy

A guide to its content

In recognition of the rapid development of technology and its use within security systems, ACPO (The Association of Chief Policy Officers) has refreshed its ACPO 2004 policy. 
The new policy details the level of police response that businesses and householders can expect when their alarm goes off. This new revised Policy covers police regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For many years police forces have been looking for ways to reduce the drain on their limited resources caused by false alarms activations and this was the reason why the ACPO 2000 Policy came into being. In the first three years it was in operation, it certainly had a major impact on cutting false alarms and achieving its objectives - as these figures show:

The ACPO 2005 Policy has been developed to improve on this success by further reducing the number of false calls, thereby enhancing the credibility of alarms which are passed to police. It now encompasses CCTV and vehicle tracking system as well as security systems.
There are no changes to police response levels. However, its important to note that police response is ultimately determined by the nature of demand and the priorities and resources that exist at the time of the alarm call.

Which systems qualify for police response?

The ACPO Security Systems Policy 2005 consists of a number of elements, which determine if a security system is to qualify for police response. ‘Police response’ can simply be defined as the police attending premises when they are informed of an alarm activation. For the purposes of the Policy, electronic security and CCTV systems are divided into two categories – Type A and Type B.
Only calls from compliant ARCs/RVRCs will be open to receiving a police response and then only if the site concerned has a valid URN

Type A – Remote Signalling Systems

• Systems that terminate at recognised Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs), Remote Video Response Centres (RVRCs) for CCTV and System Operating Centres (SOCs) for vehicle tracking.
• All such centres must conform to BS5979 (Cat II).
• Unique reference numbers (URNs) will be issued by the local police force to systems at these recognised centres. In the case of stolen vehicle tracking systems, one URN will be issued to the operating company or monitoring centre, not to each vehicle.
• Each application for a URN is subject to an admin fee of up to £35.00 (incl. VAT). The maximum level is reviewed by ACPO every 2 years.
• If a business changes alarm supplier, the system URN needs to be changed as well: under the new ACPO 2005 Policy an admin fee is payable
• To be eligible for Type A rating, systems also need to:
• Comply with a recognised standard or code of practice controlling manufacture, installation, maintenance and operation.  Such standards must be in the public domain and not be product based.
• Be installed and serviced by an installation company and ARC/RVRC/monitoring centre that is certified by a UKAS-accredited certification body in accordance with the provisions of the ACPO Requirements for Security Systems.

Type B – Security Systems

• Systems which do not conform with the requirements for Type A systems.
• Police attendance may be requested but will not automatically be provided.
• URNs are not issued to these systems.

In-house monitored systems

• Alarm Receiving Centres that deal solely with alarm systems within their own company premises are exempt from the BS5979 Cat II certification provided that:
• Their facility was operational with police consent prior to 31st October 1995 and there has been no change of premises.
• There is no monitoring of any alarm or security device in the premises other than those owned by that company (ie, no third party commercial risk is undertaken).
• The intruder alarm systems are operated in accordance with all other aspects of the ACPO 2005 Policy.

CCTV systems

• Detector activated CCTV systems that are installed and monitored according to the requirements of the ACPO 2005 Policy are rated as Type A systems. They are issued with URNs.
• Systems which operate outside the Policy’s requirements and for which police attendance may be required, are known as Type B systems. No URN is issued to CCTV systems of this type
• The RVRC will only call the police if there is sufficient evidence in the images of unauthorised access to the site or premises and of criminal activity in progress.
• Filtering techniques must be used to avoid unnecessary calls being passed to the police.

Personal attack alarms

• Systems that include a personal attack alarm (PA) facility are used to summon urgent police assistance when someone enters a site or premises with the obvious intention of harming or threatening people within it. They get what’s called ‘Level 1 response’ from the police – that is, immediate/urgent response.
• It’s vital to remember that PAs must not be used to summon help in any other circumstances – for example, spotting a shoplifter in action.
• This misuse can result in police response being withdrawn after 3 or more false alarms of this kind.
• It is therefore vital that in a system that includes both PA and security elements, the remote signal must be able to differentiate between the two types.
• Otherwise, any withdrawal of police response for PA calls from the system will also apply to the security element – and vice versa.
• To help overcome risk of accidental operation,  PA devices should have 2 separate buttons with synchronised push operation.  Any old systems which lose police response would need to have any different types of PA device upgraded to this type.

What level of police response can be expected?

For type A systems

There are three levels of police intervention.
Level 1 – Immediate/Urgent
Police forces treat alarms with urgency – but it must be remembered that their speed of response will be ultimately determined by the nature of demand and the priorities and resources which exist at the time a request for police response is received. There may be local or regional variations governing this.
This is the level of response that can also be expected for personal attack (PA) calls.
Level 2- Routine
Police response is desirable but attendance may be delayed – for example, due to lack of resources.
Level 3 – Withdrawn
No police attendance. A keyholder or member of the public will need to attend the premises to confirm a crime is in progress.

For Type B systems

• To obtain police attendance, Type B systems will require some additional indication from a person at the scene that an offence is in progress that requires police intervention.
• The level of police response will depend on the quality of the information received from the informant.
• Calls to the police will need to be made using the 999 emergency number or public telephone lines.
• The addition of electric means to provide confirmation will not promote such systems to Type A or achieve police response.

When is police response reduced?

• All security or CCTV systems which have been issued with a URN are automatically entitled to Level 1 response until 2 false calls have been received in a rolling 12-month period.
• Police response is then moved to Level 2
• Following 5 false calls in 12 months *, police response is moved to Level 3 and the ARC is no longer able to pass alarm messages to the police. The police will write to the customer and advise them of the withdrawal of response and copy to the maintaining company.
• This status remains in place until the system has been free of false calls for 3 consecutive months.
• Unconfirmed activation systems that have had their police response reduced to level 3 can only qualify for restoration of response if they upgrade to a confirmed activation system. This would have to comply with DD243: 2004.
• Confirmed systems but not to DD243: 2004 will have to upgrade to comply with DD243: 2004
• Confirmed DD243: 2004 compliant systems will have to wait three months free of false calls or have a second form of confirmation installed.

*Subject to local police force variation

Where a system has been upgraded, a certificate of installation will be required by the police.  Should the level of false calls result in the restoration of response being delayed for more than 6 months, the URN will be deleted and the occupier and the security company advised in writing.

Personal attack alarms

• As mentioned earlier, misuse of a personal attack facility that leads to 3 false calls can result in police response being withdrawn.
• To reinstate it, its necessary for the alarm company to provide evidence to the police that the PA system has been free from false calls for a 3 month period.
• Earlier reinstatement may be available if it can be demonstrated to the police that significant changes have been made to the system to prevent further false alarms. Only one application of this kind can be made to the police force for a specific system.

Other considerations

Keyholders

• All premises with Type A systems must have at least 2 key holders. It is the role of the ARC or central keyholding services to maintain their contact details.
• Keyholders must be trained to operate the alarm, be telephone subscribers, have adequate means of transport to attend the premises at all hours, have access to all relevant parts of the premises and be able to arrive within 20 minutes of being notified.
• They must also comply with the Association of British Insurers Guidance on keyholders for Commercial Premises.
• Failure of keyholders to attend when requested on 3 occasions in a rolling 12-month period will result in the withdrawal of police response for a 3-month period.

Delay of audible sounder and alarm activated security devices

• The policy states that commercial premises may be required to delay any audible and visual alarms warning devices for up to 10 minutes at the request of the police force in the area. This is in order to give the force adequate time to attend. Such a requirement will depend on individual circumstances and application may be made asking for this to be waived.

False alarm logging

• There is an obligation on the part of the installer, the maintenance company, the customer and the monitoring centre to employ all possible means to filter out false calls.
• Companies installing Type A systems will have their performance judged on their false call rate.
• The policy defines a false alarm as an alarm call which would normally be passed to the police and which has not resulted from:

• a criminal attack or attempt on the premises, the system or the line carrying the alarm signal
• actions by the emergency services in their performance of duty
• a call emanating from a personal attack system with good intent

Activation of detectors without apparent damage or entry to the premises and line faults, will be considered as a false alarm unless proved otherwise.
Your responsibilities
Many of the criteria which a system must meet to comply with the ACPO Security Systems Policy 2005 are the responsibility of security professionals such as installation companies and ARCs
The business or homeowner also has a key part to play in ensuring that false alarms are kept to a minimum. It must also be remembered that many insurers make police response a condition of cover. This means that a loss of response could equate to a loss of insurance cover too.
The following guidelines will help to keep false alarms to a minimum and maintain police response at Level 1.

• Only use an installation company and an ARC/RVRC which have been approved by a UKAS-accredited certification company. This is a stipulation of the ACPO 2005 Policy for Type A systems.
• Where possible, use a secure continuously monitored intelligent signalling system – such as redcare – to avoid signalling path faults which may be perceived as alarm activations.
• Train staff and keyholders in the correct use of the security system and arrange for refresher courses. Research suggests that the vast majority of false alarms that arise are due to user error.
• Where personal alarms are in operation, make certain that staff are well briefed on when they should be used – and when they should not.
• Ensure that windows and doors are correctly secured when closing the premises and keep them well maintained to avoid problems
• Ensure ARCs are kept informed of any alterations in working hours which may impact on opening and closing times
• Report any faults or maintenance requirements to the installation company immediately. This should include any movements of fixtures and fittings that might affect the system.
• Ensure that the authorities are notified and kept updated of any changes in the premises that might create hazards or risks (Health & Safety Act).

This guidance note has been compiled by Crime Prevention Services Ltd and is their summary guide of The ACPO 2005 Policy and how it impacts on police response to security systems.  The information is neither guaranteed nor intended as an all-encompassing document.
A full transcript is available from: http://www.acpo.police.uk

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