ECHO connectivity supports 40,000-plus alarm activations per annum

Since launching in April 2021, ECHO connectivity signalling intruder and hold-up alarm activations to the police now serves eleven ECHO-connected police services and 300,000-plus police approved alarm systems, in turn protecting sites and premises.

ECHO’s influence as a deterrent against intruder and hold-up crime is on the rise. In 2022, Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the City of London Police and Northumbria Police became ECHO-connected. Early in 2023, they were joined by the Bedfordshire Police, Kent Police, the Hertfordshire Constabulary, the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Northamptonshire Police and Greater Manchester Police.

According to police service estimates, ECHO significantly reduces response times to ‘confirmed’ alarm activations, saving up to four minutes once any of the 37 ECHO-connected approved Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) validates alarm signals.

ECHO automatically transfers alarm activation signals from the ARCs to police Control Rooms, replacing legacy manual voice calling procedures and accelerating the ‘stand-down’ of responders where an alarm may be discovered as false prior to police arrival, in all cases helping to greatly improve public safety and policing effectiveness.

Remarkable inroads

Ciaron Irvine, deputy chief constable at the Durham Constabulary and the National Police Chiefs Council’s (NPCC) lead for the Security Systems Group, commented: “Having a direct impact on policing deployment and effectiveness at a rate of 40,000 incidents every year is no mean feat. The inroads in police Control Room efficiencies and police responders’ impact at the scene of intruder and hold-up incidents in those eleven ECHO-connected force areas is remarkable. Other police forces looking closely at how they can become ECHO-connected are encouraged to do so at the earliest opportunity.”

In all, up to one million residential and commercial users – including retail outlets – of professionally installed intruder and hold-up alarm systems (installed by National Security Inspectorate or Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board approved installers) are set to benefit as more police forces across the UK become ECHO-connected during 2023-2024.

Countrywide impact

Martin Harvey, founding director of ECHO, observed: “Enabling a speedier and more effective alarm response to over 40,000 police response incidents each year is testimony to the impact ECHO is having across the eleven connected police forces. Looking ahead, the countrywide impact is set to be truly remarkable. It justifies the NPCC’s vision and the security industry’s commitment to delivery improved security in collaboration with the police, assisting efficiency in the deployment of police resources, faster police response and crime deterrence.”

Harvey added: “ECHO now supports intruder and hold-up police response alarm systems at over 300,000 residential, commercial and public sector sites and buildings. thereby offering homeowners and those responsible for commercial and publicly operated properties of all sizes a greater degree of assurance when it comes to speedier and more effective police response. ECHO is standing by to engage with any police force that wishes to prioritise its ECHO connection.”

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