Speed of Police response, URN v 999

I'm pleased to say that ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) have published a formal note about the difference between a lone worker alarm being handled using a supplier who complies with BS8484 and those that don't. The following is a complete, unedited copy of this note:

URN V 999/101

Unique Reference Numbers (URNs) are allocated by police forces for security systems that meet the requirements of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Policy for police response to security systems.

The policy only allows URNs to be allocated to Type ‘A’ Remote Signalling Systems or in the case of Lone Worker Systems where the Supplier meets the requirements of BS8484 and the ARC meets the requirements of BS8484 and BS5979 Cat II. This allows the alarm receiving/monitoring centre the use of ex-directory lines to report direct into police control rooms for a Level 1 Immediate or Priority response. Through the URN system police operators have immediate access to the end users details and can despatch a response quickly without the need to ask questions re the incident.

Two Forces are currently being passed alarm activations direct from an Alarm Receiving Centre by electronic transfer. Provided the details of the system recorded at the ARC and the Forces Command and Control correspond, the call by-passes the call taker and goes immediately to a dispatcher saving valuable time. Other Forces are beginning to trial this initiative and a number of Alarm Receiving Centre Managers have expressed an interest in joining the scheme. Richard Childs, Chairman of the ACPO Security Systems Working Group is promoting the arrangement to Chief Officers to encourage other Forces to do the same.

A number of Forces are introducing Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) to be carried on board patrol cars. Details of alarms that qualify and require response will be sent direct via the dispatcher again streamlining the process and reducing response times.

All other systems are classed as Type ‘B’ alarms are usually reported by the 999 or 101 telephone network via the telephone operator. When this is eventually received by the police operator, a series of questions will be asked in order to create an incident and determine if a response is necessary, the majority of Type ‘B’ alarms do not get a response because they do not meet the criteria of the ACPO Policy.

When a police response is given to a Type ‘B’ alarm, experience shows that there is a significant time delay in despatching a police response compared to the URN system, this is due to the questions that need to asked to verify if it is a genuine alarm situation. This time lapse could be vital if a person is in immediate danger.