ECHO-connected alarm handling initiative marks second anniversary

In the period subsequent to the initiative’s official launch in April 2021, ECHO has become the pathway for intruder and hold-up alarm activation signalling. At present, ten ECHO-connected police forces and over 300,000 police-approved alarm systems are protecting sites and premises alike.

Since Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service announced their readiness to accept verified alarm activations via ECHO and the ECHO-connected service came into being, it has grown in stature and duly established itself as a cornerstone of the police’s armoury in the ongoing fight to defeat criminality.

Last year, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the City of London Police and Northumbria Police became ECHO-connected, followed in the early part of 2023 by Bedfordshire Police, Kent Police, the Hertfordshire Constabulary, the Cambridgeshire Constabulary and, most recently, Greater Manchester Police.

According to police estimates, ECHO delivers savings of up to four minutes in terms of response times to ‘confirmed’ alarm activations received from any of the 35 Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) using the service. The ECHO service automatically transfers alarm activation signals from ARCs to ECHO-connected police Control Rooms, replacing legacy manual voice calling procedures and accelerating ‘stand-down’ signals where an alarm is discovered as being a false alert prior to police officers’ arrival at the scene.

Tremendous inroads

Ciaron Irvine, deputy chief constable at the Durham Constabulary and the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for the Security Systems Group, commented: “The progress made by ECHO and the ten police forces that are now ECHO-connected has realised a tremendously positive impact in terms of police Control Room efficiencies and police responders’ influence at the scene of intruder and hold-up alarm incidents. I would encourage all police forces to become ECHO-connected at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Over one million active residential and commercial users of professionally installed intruder and hold-up alarm systems – ie those installed by a National Security Inspectorate or a Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board-approved installer – are set to benefit as more police forces across the UK opt for ECHO connection across 2023-2024.

Richard Jenkins, director of ECHO and the recently retired CEO of the National Security Inspectorate, explained: “ECHO’s pioneering service continues to increase its reach and deliver efficiencies across more regions of the UK in support of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s requirements. ECHO technology is now a proven facilitator of greater efficiencies in the deployment of police resources, faster police response and crime deterrence.”

Jenkins added: “The expanded service now supports intruder and hold-up police response alarm systems in residential, commercial and public sector buildings with ten ECHO-connected police forces currently offering homeowners and those in charge of commercial and publicly-operated premises a greater degree of assurance in terms of speedier and more effective police response.”

Approved installers

Approved installers are actively encouraged to check with their ARC providers regarding ECHO support for their customers’ intruder and hold-up alarm systems.

The British Security Industry Association, the Fire Industry Association, the Electrical Contractors Association and the National Security Inspectorate have all played key roles in developing and implementing the ECHO initiative.

*Further information is available online at www.echo.uk.net