Noise Control of burglar alarms

Audible intruder alarms are widely used to protect property from unauthorised entry and are often required by insurance companies. Burglar alarms that are sounding should be reported to the Police so that evidence of criminal activity can be investigated.

The Council and Police, however, receive many complaints about alarm systems that sound for long periods of time, causing serious noise disturbance to neighbours, and where there is no evidence of a break-in. In fact, over 90% of all alarms sounding are false due to faults.

Cut-off devices

Alarm systems should have an automatic cut-off device fitted to stop the alarm sounding after 20 minutes. Most modern alarms have such a device already fitted, but cut-out devices can be fitted to older, existing systems. The Council can require the installation of cut-out devices if an alarm system gives rise to nuisance.

Keyholders

If an alarm system is reported as causing a noise nuisance, the Council will try to contact a keyholder so that the problem can be resolved quickly and with the minimum of fuss.

A Code of Practice advises alarm keyholders to provide the local Police, in writing, with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two keyholders who can operate and silence the alarm. It is recommended that Environmental Health be provided with details of which Police Station has been informed and the person responsible for the alarm.

Within 48 hours of installing or taking over an alarm system, occupiers should nominate at least 2 key holders and provide their names, addresses and telephone numbers to the Thames Valley Police Alarms Administration.

Each keyholder must be able to reach the property within 20 minutes. They should be familiar with the property and the alarm system installed. Arrangements should be made such that at least one key holder is available at any given time.

Thames Valley Police alarms administration can be contacted at:

Alarms causing a noise nuisance

If a Council officer is satisfied that an alarm is causing a noise nuisance and is unable to contact a keyholder within a reasonable period of time to silence the alarm, then formal action will be taken to abate the nuisance.

An Abatement Notice requiring the alarm to be silenced will be served on the occupier by leaving it at or affixing it to the premises. An Electrical Engineer will also be summonsed to silence the alarm box.

The Occupier will be responsible for reimbursing the Council for all costs reasonably incurred in abating the nuisance. This can be several hundred pounds.

To make a complaint during normal working hours contact the Environmental Health service. Outside normal office hours and at weekends you can contact the Environmental Health service by telephoning the Council's Control Centre.

Page last reviewed 14 Apr 2008