1. NSW Police Force
www.pollce.nsw.gov.au
29 April 2010
Bryan de Caires
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Security Industry Association Ltd (ASIAL)
PO Box 1338
Crows Nest NSW 1585
Dear 6l*
As you are aware, on 1 December 2008 the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) changed the
way it dealt with calls from security companies reporting alarm activations. This
change included the introduction of the 1900 Direct Access Service (DAS) initiative.
The aim of this initiative was to ensure that NSWPF will achieve its strategy of
reducing non-genuine alarm calls and responding more effectively to genuine alarm
activations. The initiative also aimed to provide a benefit to security industry members
in that members could quickly and accurately inform the NSWPF to the status of
monitored alarms that have been triggered at their clients' premises, so as to enable the
NSWPF to respond more effectively.
The New South Wales Police Force has now undertaken an analysis of the impact of
the Direct Access Service in the first twelve months of its operation. The analysis
identifies that the strategy has been effective in reducing the number of alarm
activations reported to NSWPF, though there has been no improvement to the
percentage of non-genuine alarms being reported.
Our analysis shows, when comparing the calendar year 2009 with 2008; that the
strategies have been successful in reducing the number of alarm activations recorded
by NSW Police Force by 650/o, which equates to over 52,000 incidents. Further
analysis of the 2009 data indicates that police were requested to attend close to 28,000
alarm activation events. On closer analysis, it was identified that only 6% of these
events were confirmed as genuine activations by attending Police.
In summary, the strategy has been effective in reducing the number of alarm
activations reported to NSWPF, though there has been no improvement to the
percentage of non-genuine alarms being reported.
Policelink Gommand
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2. As indicated recently in a meeting with ASIAL members, the New South Wales Police
Force is examining ways to further reduce the impact of non-genuine alarm
activations. My purpose in writing to you is to inform you that the NSW Police Force
will commence to utilise the provisions of Section209 of the Police Act more
vigorously than it has in the past, as a means to further reduce the number of reports of
non- genuine alarm act ivations.
Section 209 of the Police Act empowers the Commissioner of Police to charge a fee of
$200, where Police respond to a false alarm on more than one occasion within any 28
day period, where the premise is a building.
When reviewing the reported alarm incidents for one month, it was found that 114
instances were identified where Police had attended a building on more than one
occasion, where they deemed that the alarm was a false activation. In future, the NSW
Police Force will utilise Section 209 and impose the fee of $200 on the person who is
responsible for the alarm system; be it the occupier of owner of the building.
I would ask that you advise your members of these alrangements. The intention of the
NSW Police Force is that we will cofirmence reviewing our events from I June 2010.
From that date, the NSW Police Force will send letters of demand to the relevant
person where a member of the NSW Police Force responds to a false alarm on more
than one occasion within any period of 28 days.
As usual, I would be happy to discuss this or any other issue regarding alarms, if
required. feel free to contact me.
s Beatson
Director
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