Home Security System or Intruder Alarm System

There are many myths about whether intruder alarm systems actually do deter burglars. It used to be said that only the well-off could afford a system, and that a house displaying an alarm bell box indicated that there was something worth stealing. Consequently, some people were reluctant to have systems installed for fear of encouraging burglars. Thankfully, these myths have been dispelled by the findings of the British Crime Survey, which show that intruder alarm systems do reduce the likelihood of burglary.

That said, some still see the house alarm as more of an irritation than a security improvement, a view prompted by the sheer number of false alarms from many systems. The cost has also deterred people from buying them, even though, in reality, their price has probably never been more competitive nor their operation so easy. The fact is that alarm boxes on the front and back of a house are likely to deter the majority of determined thieves, and even if they don't, at least your neighbour's attention will be drawn to your house when the alarm does go off.

It is important to understand that an intruder alarm should not be installed instead of taking physical measures to secure your home, as described in previous sections. Rather, it should be seen as a means of summoning help if those physical measures are overcome. The alarm must not place any restrictions on your movements within the home, nor have an adverse effect on your daily routines, apart from having to turn it on and off.

TYPES OF INTRUDER ALARM SYSTEM

Essentially, there are three types of intruder alarm system, ranging from the inexpensive DIY kit, through the audible system that is usually professionally installed, to the monitored system, which sends a signal down a telephone line to a central monitoring station. Most alarms are 'hard wired', which means that each detector is physically connected by wire to the control panel. In a DIY wired system, the wiring is usually colour coded with clear and concise instructions on how to install the alarm. A number of wire-free systems are available, which rely on tiny radio transmitters and receivers to communicate between the detectors and the control panel. Wire-free systems are the simplest DIY solution, as they are easy to install, require no cabling and cause the minimum of disruption in the home.

The principle components are similar for all types of alarm system. Each will have a control panel and a number of detectors. When the alarm is activated, it normally operates an internal or external sounder (or both) in the form of a siren, most bell systems having been replaced years ago. The majority of systems are powered from the domestic mains electrical supply and have a battery backup in case of power failure. The most popular type of house alarm is the basic audible version, which activates an external sounder (bell box) to call attention to the house. At the same time, it triggers a very loud, ear piercing internal sounder, usually placed near the control panel, to encourage the burglar to leave.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

When installing an audible alarm, an important consideration is your neighbours' reaction if it goes off, as you will be relying on them to look out of the window to see what's happening and to notify the police on your behalf. Equally important is your choice of a keyholder, someone who can be contacted by telephone and who is willing, no matter what time of the day or night, to attend the premises in response to the alarm going off. They must have their own transport so that they can get there within 20 minutes of being called. They should also have a good knowledge of your home and be fully conversant with the operation of the alarm, so that they can turn it off and reset it. Council environmental health departments offer a free keyholder registration service, and will contact a keyholder on a householder's behalf if they are away on holiday, etc.

Noise from domestic audible intruder alarms often results in complaints to local authorities. If an alarm is activated, it may cause a disturbance to neighbours for some time. However, if an alarm continues to sound for more than 20 minutes, and the environmental health office is satisfied that the noise is causing a statutory nuisance, formal action may be taken to silence it. This involves obtaining a warrant from a Magistrates Court to enter the premises, and the employment of specialist contractors to gain access, deactivate the alarm and, if necessary, change the locks to leave the house secure. The cost of carrying out such work, which can run into hundreds of pounds, can be recovered from the householder.

The following steps will help to minimise the risk of an alarm causing problems to your neighbours:

• Make sure the alarm is fitted with a 20-minute cut-out device.
• Have the alarm serviced regularly.
• Provide your local authority with details of keyholders who can be contacted if the alarm sounds while you are away from home (especially if you are on holiday).
• Tell your neighbours how to get hold of the keyholders.

If you live in a fairly isolated location, or don't want to involve your neighbours, or want to ensure attendance at your home to investigate the cause of the alarm going off, you could opt for a remotely monitored system. This ensures that someone other than your neighbours will know what has happened. The monitoring service will automatically call a keyholder (which could be a security guarding company) and the police.

Intruder alarm systems that do not conform to police requirements outlined in this section will not receive a police response unless reported by a person at the premises reporting a crime or suspicion of a crime in progress.

A centrally monitored alarm can be designed to allow staff at the monitoring station to see and hear what is going on in the building if the alarm is activated. This type of system is known as a 'confirmed alarm'. Although more expensive than a basic audible alarm, a confirmed alarm is the only type that guarantees the attendance of the police following a call from the monitoring station.

All monitored alarms to which the police are called must be authenticated by sequential, visual or audible confirmation. Visually confirmed systems have small cameras at various locations around the building, or within the detectors, enabling the monitoring station to see an intruder or a suspect vehicle in the grounds of the property. Audio confirmed systems use microphones to listen to any activity within the premises after activation of the alarm. Sequentially confirmed systems look for successive tripping of individual detectors, which would indicate movement within the building.

There are a number of British and European standards for intruder alarms, which govern the manufacture of the components, the installation and the operation. BS 4737 – more recently replaced by BSEN 50131-1 – is the most familiar of the standards for normal hard wired domestic systems; BS 7042 is the standard for high-security systems; and BS 6799 class 6 is the standard for wire-free systems. These are being replaced by BSEN 50131, a new European Standard.

If you are considering having an alarm installed professionally, note that the police will only accept the installation of remote signalling alarms by companies that conform to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) security systems policy, and whose business is subject to inspection by an independent body accredited to UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service). Currently, only two organisations are accepted by the police:

• The National Security Inspectorate (NSI)
• The Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB).

POLICE RECOGNITION OF ALARM COMPANIES

NSI and SSAIB publish a list of companies considered to be compliant under the police policy. However, the fact that a company has its details on the list does not necessarily mean that the company or its work have been inspected by the police. Consumers should ask installers for confirmation that they have police recognition, or alternatively contact the Alarms Administrator at your local police headquarters.

Basically, any company that is listed may install and maintain remote signalling alarm systems within that police area. The alarm company must apply to the chief officer of police to install a security system requiring a Police Unique Reference Number (URN). The police will charge the customer an administration fee for this. It may be paid via the installer. While this process is under way, any activation of the alarm will not receive a police response until the Unique Reference Number has been issued.

If a company loses its police recognition, its existing customers have 12 months in which to make alternative arrangements for maintenance and monitoring.

To be included on the list, an alarm company must be inspected by one of the independent bodies mentioned previously. The company must not employ anyone in its surveying, sales, installation or maintenance departments who has a criminal conviction, and the personnel are subjected to a criminal records check.

Details of intruder alarms systems will be held on a computer, and an alarm company will have to inform its clients of that fact, although only a limited amount of data is supplied to the police. This must include details of any hazards at the premises, such as swimming pools, hazardous chemicals stored or similar that may be a risk to officers attending. The information supplied has to be accurate and kept up to date; it is the alarm company's responsibility to notify the police of any changes, which must be done within 14 days.

ALARM RECEIVING CENTRES

The police do not accept calls from dedicated telephone lines linked to remote signalling alarm systems. Years ago, there were automatic diallers that had equipment linked to local police stations, and if activated, they would attract an automatic police response. You can still buy a variation of this type of automatic dialling device, which plays a message down the line. However, they do not qualify under the police service intruder alarm policy. They will not receive a police response and must not be programmed to dial 999 or police stations.

An alarm receiving centre reports alarm activations from remote signalling systems that require a police response.

On receiving an activation through a dedicated telephone line, they immediately contact the control room of the relevant police service, giving the system's URN. From this, the police can determine the location of the premises, whether there are any known health or safety risks associated with them, and details on the level of response required.

POLICE RESPONSE

Every year, the police respond to thousands of alarms calls, many of which turn out to be false activations – perhaps because a keyholder is late in locking up and has forgotten the alarm code, or because a bird has flown in through an open skylight and in front of a detector. While the police acknowledge that mistakes will occur, the idea behind monitored alarm systems is to reduce the number of false-call incidents. Ultimately, the police response is determined by

the nature of demand, priorities and the resources available at the time of a request for assistance. Therefore, a stringent code of practice exists in respect of police response; currently, there are three levels:

• Level 1 Immediate - The police respond as soon as possible.
• Level 2 - Police response is desirable, but attendance may be delayed depending on available resources. The police response is managed and is dependant upon available information.
• Level 3 - No police attendance; keyholder response only.

In the case of intruder alarm systems issued with a URN, the police will continue to offer Level 1 response until such time as they receive two false calls in a rolling 12month period. After that, they move the response to Level 2. If the number of false calls increases to five within the same 12 month period, it is downgraded to Level 3 and police response is withdrawn. Following the withdrawal of police response, a minimum of three months must pass with no further false calls before consideration is given to restoring the response. The original cause of the false activation must be rectified before the process can begin again. If the level of false calls delays the restoration of response for more than six months, the URN is deleted, and the customer and security company have to apply for a new URN.

ACTIVE MONITORING

When you have a monitored alarm system, the signal that is sent down the telephone line to the central monitoring station can also be checked to ensure that the line is active and working. BT Redcare is an intelligent alarm signalling service that guarantees the alarm signal will reach the monitoring station. It uses your existing telephone line, to which is connected a small attachment (Modem Compatible Device). This actively checks that the line is fully operational. If the line is cut or tampered with, the device sends a signal directly to Redcare.

Redcare GSM employs two alarm monitoring paths: radio signal and telephone line. If one of the paths is attacked, the other continues to monitor for any further alarms, transmitting them as confirmed activations.

PERSONAL ATTACK ALARM

Most intruder alarm systems cater for a personal attack alarm. This is normally operated to summon urgent police assistance when someone enters a building, usually a predefined area of it, with the intention of threatening or harming an occupant. It must be said that such incidents are very rare, although incorporating panic buttons into an intruder alarm system is commonplace.

Panic buttons are usually fitted near the front door and in the master bedroom, although the majority of alarm companies should discuss your specific needs in this respect. You can also have a portable device, which allows greater flexibility, but it must be capable of transmitting its exact location.

Where an alarm system incorporates both personal attack and intruder detection equipment, the remote signal differentiates between the two types of activation. Most people would want a Level 1 response to a personal attack alarm and, if this is the case, both the intruder and personal attack alarms will need their own URNs. Thus, the police will automatically be made aware of the type of incident they are attending.

The policing of personal attack alarms is subject to the same code of practice as intruder alarms. However, the police response following five false calls to the system may vary in some police forces and you should check local procedures with the Alarms Administrator at police headquarters.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER

Here are ten considerations and questions to ask a security company before deciding on a particular alarm system:

1. Arrange an appointment that suits you. Allow yourself plenty of time to discuss the security of your home. Do not be in a rush.
2. If the installation of an alarm is a requirement of your insurance company, is the company acceptable to your insurer?
3. Before disclosing any personal details, check the address and credentials of the company, and satisfy yourself as to the credentials of the company's representative.
4. Is the company subjected to an independent inspection process and, if so, which organisation?
5. Will the company representative provide a list of police rules for occupiers of premises with alarms, and written confirmation that both the alarm and the company are currently acceptable to the local police for the transmission of alarm messages from new installations?
6. Does the alarm system reach the required British/European Standard? Tell the installer that you require the alarm to conform to BS 4737, BSEN 50131-1 or BS 7042 (high-security systems), or for wire-free alarms, BS 6799 or European equivalent.
7. Does the company offer a rented system or will you own it? Are there monitoring costs and/or hidden extras?
8. Is there a 24-hour call-out service and emergency attendance within four hours?
9. Is there a guarantee with the system? If so, how long does it last and what happens if there is a problem after the guarantee expires?
10. Does the installing company provide adequate training in the operation of the system, and what happens if you become confused and need more training?

Take the time to read any agreements carefully before signing. Don't accept verbal contracts. If you are unsure, have the contract checked by a legal professional.

ALARMS FOR OUTBUILDINGS

It is possible to install an alarm system in most outbuildings, but a wooden shed containing a lawnmower, tools and a couple of bicycles may not warrant the expense. A professional installer would advise extending a full house alarm system into a substantial outbuilding, such as a brick built garage or workshop, but should not do so for a wooden shed. However, there is a solution to the problem of wooden sheds and similar less-sturdy structures. You can buy battery operated or plug-in self-contained alarms from most DIY stores and security shops. The battery operated types normally comprise a mechanical switch and a 120-decibel sounder, whereas the plug-in units combine the sounder with a passive infra-red detector.

COMMUNITY ALARMS FOR THE ELDERLY

In some areas, Help the Aged operate a community alarm system that is managed by the Senior Link bogus caller scheme. This provides a 24-hour immediate response service for vulnerable older people. Senior Link installs a radio triggered base unit and pendant or door alert button, which can be pressed if a suspicious caller is at the door. Pressing the button causes the unit to call the Senior Link Response Centre. A trained operator answers the call, and simultaneously the client's details are displayed on a computer screen, indicating that help is needed. The operator can offer advice and support, and make any necessary calls to check the identity of the caller or summon the police. Help the Aged also operates a Handy Van Scheme, making older people's homes safer and more secure.

CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION 

Miniature closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are widely available, allowing you to protect your property whether you are at home or away. The cameras can be mounted on house walls or lighting columns to monitor specific vulnerable areas, including the back garden, side access, shed, garage and approach to the front door. Not only do cameras act as a visual deterrent for intruders, but also they allow you to see visitors approaching the property.

A domestic CCTV system usually comprises one or two weatherproof cameras, an adaptor and a television monitor. The cameras can also be connected to a video recorder and television. This allows you to view your garden from your armchair at the touch of a button. Cameras can be movement activated so that they automatically change the TV channel to show the camera picture when movement is detected. Similarly, if the cameras are linked to your home video recorder, it will automatically record the images produced. The more adventurous can even link a camera system to a home computer, enabling you to fully automate recordings.

Such systems are particularly good for the elderly and disabled, who need to be able to see and recognise callers at the front door. In addition, a CCTV camera will allow you to keep an eye on your children while getting on with other tasks.

If CCTV cameras are to be effective, you must provide a good level of light in the garden at night. Also, cameras must not look beyond the boundary of your property, although their use on domestic dwellings does not require them to be registered under the codes of practice of the Data Protection Act.

PERIMETER DETECTION SYSTEMS 

The vast majority of family homes do not extend beyond the average-size plot and, therefore, won't require a sophisticated perimeter detection system. However, such systems do exist and are designed to detect the entry of an intruder into an outdoor area that requires protection. This type of system identifies the location of the intrusion and sends a signal to an alarm. Perimeter detection systems must be installed professionally. The principle form of detection used comprises special detecting cables that are attached to the perimeter fence or buried underground. Microwaves and active infra-red beams sent from a transmitter to a receiver can also operate such systems. If the beam is interrupted, the alarm is activated. Basically, the system forms an invisible 'fence' of detection just within the perimeter.