Mr. Phil Gormley, Chief Constable Norfolk Constabulary Police Headquarters Jubilee House Falconers Chase WYMONDHAM Norfolk NR18 0WW A. Introduction A.1 Norfolk Constabulary has adopted the revised ACPO 2011 Security Systems policy document. The following variations, permitted under the terms of the response policy, apply in this police area. A.2. The revisions will be implemented from April 2011. The policy will operate within the scope of Norfolk Constabulary s published Service Standards document. It will relate to our emergency and high priority graded response service towards incidents requiring an immediate police attendance within urban conurbations or rural Norfolk locations. A.3 Norfolk Constabulary s aim is to attend all high priority calls within 15 minutes for an incident located in the urban districts of Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn, Norwich and Thetford, and all other rural locations within 20 minutes. A.4 Unconfirmed reports of an audible bell only scare alarm activation, i.e., a Type B system with no other information to suggest suspicious activity or a crime in progress, will not receive a police attendance. ** If and where found possible, our 24 / 7 Police Control Room personnel will check and call a nominated key-holder if listed for the premises, drawn from key-holder database records. On some occasions where police officers are already on scene, they will call a nominated person responsible for the premises, but only if the owner / occupier of the protected building(s) has annually subscribed to the keyholder registration scheme **, operated by Norfolk Police. B. Audible Bell Box Sounders / Strobe Lights B.1 In view of new alarm confirmation signalling technology, no time delays are required on warning devices whether fitted to either ACPO Type A or Type B security systems throughout Norfolk. All older, newer, upgraded, or future installations may have instantaneous warnings, i.e., internal warnings via indicator or sounder, or external audible bell box sounders, and / or, strobe lights where fitted.
C. Charges C.1 The current local fee set for the issue of a Unique Reference Number will be 52.18 inclusive of 20% VAT, and effective from 01/04/2011 submitted via a personal or business cheque in sterling, made payable to Norfolk Police Authority ; and which, in most cases, will be signed by the owner / occupier. The completed cheques must be attached via a paper clip pinned to Appendix F applications made out by the installing company, and Appendix G Site Hazards Declaration signed by their client. Failure to enclose these items with the installers (A5) sized stamped addressed envelope, will result in the application being rejected and returned. C.2 No fees or charges will be made in respect of 24 / 7 annual access to our Wymondham Police Control Room via an ex-directory alarm line used exclusively by inspectorate approved national alarm receiving centres or in-house central monitoring stations. D. Correspondence D.1 All correspondence relating to security system installations within the County of Norfolk must be addressed to:- Norfolk Constabulary Security Systems Officer Control Room Support Office Police Headquarters Jubilee House Falconers Chase WYMONDHAM NR18 0WW D.2 Security companies should enclose an A5 sized stamped addressed envelope with all correspondence requiring an acknowledgement or full reply. E-mails or facsimile messages may only be used when transmitting formats relating to existing security systems, and normally not requiring an acknowledgement. The dedicated facsimile telephone line to be used is Wymondham (01953) 424495. D.3 The Unique Reference Number (URN) must be quoted in all correspondence. In the interests of maintaining security of records, all enquires concerning individual systems should be made in writing, or via an e-mail communication with format attachments. D.4 Auditing Police Database Records: ** In line with Data Protection Act 1998 requirements, active URN records held are subject to an internal rolling programme of audit, and their accuracy will occasionally be confirmed, in writing, directly with the owner / occupier of the premises concerned. Updated site hazard details, and map references will also be checked at the same time. However security companies may wish to annually submit their complete list of active Norfolk URN s printed in URN number order, and assisting police administrators in identifying remaining active or deleted contracts. E. Direct Police Signalling E.1 999 automatic dialling alarm equipment is NOT permitted, and security systems should not be programmed to dial any other Norfolk police telephone numbers, or transmit taped messages.
E.2. ** Norfolk Police Authority operates a BT RedCARE in-house Alarm Receiving Centre monitoring signals generated from police buildings and constabulary estate. Any other security system with direct signalling connections terminating at Norfolk Police Control Room; will be conditional upon the specific terms and approval imposed by the Chief Constable. Such approval will only be given in exceptional circumstances, and in connection with specific projects and operational requirements. F. Disclosure of Convictions F.1 Appendix C will be adopted in full for those security companies with an installing / branch office located within the County of Norfolk, and in respect of any other regional or national companies whose personnel are resident in Norfolk. All completed forms must be marked Private and Confidential for the attention of: Security Systems Officer, Control Room Support Office, Norfolk Constabulary, Police Headquarters, Jubilee House, Falconers Chase, WYMONDHAM, NR18 0WW. G. Grid References (covering new build locations, barn conversions, etc) G.1 Grid or map references are essential to enable police officers to accurately pinpoint the location of the protected premises, especially during periods of darkness. As supplied by the installer s sales / surveyor: Grid / Map references should be completed on Appendix F, and in respect of newly built premises or properties, including existing buildings that have been subject to major conversion. If not available, enclosing a small map or sketch plan drawing of the access routes to location would prove helpful. H. Internal List of Inspectorate Approved Policy Compliant Companies H.1 Any security system installer or ARC seeking inclusion on the Norfolk Constabulary list of compliant companies must first complete and return Appendix B, and attach a photocopy of their membership certificate issued by the appropriate independent inspectorate body. I. Nominated Key-holder List I.1 ** ACPO Type A: For remote signalling systems, with an active police URN, and connected to a national alarm receiving centre (ARC) or in-house central monitoring station; Norfolk will retain on its database the name and telephone number only of the ARC responsible for maintaining key-holder call out records. I.2 ** ACPO Type B: In view of local authority adoption relating to Clean Neighbourhoods & Environmental Act 2005 which deals with noise nuisance issues generated by alarm bell boxes, it now requires the owner of such equipment to register a name and contact telephone number of the individual responsible for the protected building. In addition Norfolk owner / occupiers may request details our subscription scheme by telephoning 01953 603938. The nominated key-holder database is operated strictly on a cost recovery basis by Norfolk Constabulary and managed by police control room personnel.
I.3 ** In the event of criminal damage being sustained, or the premises / property found to be insecure: It is important to establish, through the alarm monitoring centre, and / or the nominated key-holders acting on the owner / occupiers behalf; whether insurers show a preference when its comes to assigning repair contractors. If not, failing to nominate a preferred contractor will empower the Constabulary to nominate a contractor on the occupier s behalf. Through the police partnership agent, where appropriate and found possible, Security Solutions Yes Ltd will arrange for the premises to be secured. Any chargeable repair service(s) made will be invoiced to the owner / occupier for their insurer s attention. Security Solutions Yes Ltd holds an emergency contractors database, and their local specialist knowledge in this field may prove of assistance in resolving such matters quickly. J. ACPO Sanction Notices J.1 From January 2011 Norfolk alarm systems with active URN s will retain their previous false alarm history record. Any further false police attendances made will be used to generate future ACPO warning, withdrawal, or deletion sanction notices, if found necessary. J.2 ** Any initial warning notices will be prepared on behalf of the Security Systems Officer and two copies sent directly to the appropriate installer or maintenance company. The first copy of the police letter will require prompt installer action, and the second copy can then be forwarded directly on to their client detailing where necessary remedial action taken. J.3 Where a security system has been subject to a warning notice there is NO change in police resources made available or their affecting an immediate high priority response. J.4. From January 2011, all existing systems in which police attendance has been previously withdrawn under the terms of an ACPO Level 3 sanction, will remain off response until, if unconfirmed, they are upgraded in accordance with the revised policy, or if a confirmed system show a 90 day evidence of being clear of false calls. Upon written confirmation received from the maintenance company that the security system upgrade work has been successfully commissioned, will result in an immediate re-instatement of ACPO Level 1 response. See ACPO Appendix F Using either Annexe A or B formats. K. Telephone Contact K.1 All alarm receiving centre or central monitoring station messages must be passed to our Wymondham Control Room via a dedicated ex-directory telephone line. This number will be notified to all compliant ARC s. All brand new installer connections will be notified of this telephone number via a new URN issue acknowledgement letter, and sent to the installing company in the first instance. When passing activations, if this number is engaged, or unobtainable for any reason, ARC s should immediately telephone 0845 456 4567, and via our main switchboard, ask for the Control Room Contact Supervisor. Our call handling capability and speed is subject to close monitoring each day. National ARC s must remain aware this is dependent on the volume of calls being received and handled within our Control Room at any given time. In the unlikely event of no service being available, a taped message will provide temporary alternative instructions until disaster recovery procedures become effective. K.2 For all other matters, the Security Systems Officer, may be contacted on either dedicated administration telephone line, Wymondham (01953) 424494 or (01953) 603938. A message may be left on the voice mail / answer phone outside normal office hours, which are Monday to Friday, 08:00 until 16:00.
L. Amendments and system upgrades to include confirmation technology L.1 The existing Norfolk Police URN issued to the original installer / maintainer are not transferable to any another maintenance company. The company losing the service contract must immediately submit their Appendix F deleting the URN. The company winning the new service contract must promptly submit their Appendix F with 52.18 police fee attached. ** This will result in the immediate issue of a new URN and ACPO Level 1 response with a clear false call police history record. ** It is strongly recommended at this time that the existing system be reconfigured to incorporate alarm confirmation technology avoiding compulsory upgrade at a later date. If ACPO Level 3 applies, this requirement becomes compulsory. L.2 The above also applies where the existing client vacates the premises, ending all contractual arrangements made with their security alarm Maintenance Company and alarm receiving centre, with the existing non-transferable police URN being deleted. Any new occupier details, with the appropriate 52.18 police fee, must be submitted promptly via a separate Appendix F application. ** This will result in the immediate issue of a new URN and ACPO Level 1 response, with a clean police history record. ** It is strongly recommended at this time that the existing system be reconfigured to incorporate alarm confirmation technology avoiding compulsory upgrade at a later date. If ACPO Level 3 applies to the previous occupier s system performance, this requirement becomes compulsory. M. Policy Revisions M.1 The ACPO Policy is a living document within the public domain and has been published in electronic format. If any future amendments are made, the relevant information will be relayed to installers or ARC s via their inspectorate bodies in the first instance, or by accessing ACPO s security systems policies web site via:- http://www.securedbydesign.com/professionals/pdfs/ssgpolicy.pdf