ECHO now supporting circa 200,000 intruder and hold-up alarm systems

ECHO provides virtually instant alarm signalling to police service Control Rooms from approved Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs), whose trained operators remotely monitor premises protected by intruder and hold-up alarm systems.

Transforming the speed with which the police can respond to confirmed alarm signals by negating the legacy issues associated with manual call handling, ECHO is automating police alarm response to homeowners, businesses and Government properties across the Metropolitan Police Service and Essex Police jurisdictional areas. The Met and Essex Police are soon to be followed by the Avon & Somerset Police and other forces becoming ECHO-connected.

The majority of the signals from intruder and hold-up alarm systems registered with the Metropolitan Police Service are now being transmitted via ECHO’s automated signalling service. The police service estimates that ECHO increases the speed of ‘blue light’ response to emergencies by up to four minutes, helping officers to apprehend offenders and providing greater assurance to home and property owners, in parallel potentially saving more lives in critical emergency scenarios where every second counts.

This latest news follows on from the notice issued last year by the Metropolitan Police Service and Essex Police requiring those ARCs registered with those police forces to transmit intruder and hold-up alarm systems’ activation calls via the ECHO platform.

Significant technological advancement

David Mair, manager of the Security Systems Unit at the Metropolitan Police Service, commented: “The ECHO signalling service is without doubt the most significant technological advancement in the handling of intruder and hold-up alarm signals between ARCs and police responder desks. Having become ECHO-connected ourselves last year, we’re already experiencing the benefits of using this technology. It enables us to effect a quicker and more efficient police response for premises experiencing an emergency situation.”

Mair added: “As we work with the remainder of ARCs to conclude the connection process, we envisage that all ARCs registered with us will be ECHO-connected in the near future.”

Stuart Bowman, security systems manager for Essex Police, stated: “Having been at the forefront throughout the development of this ground-breaking service, we welcome the step change this milestone represents in improving police response times and the additional reassurance provided to the wider public who rely upon this technology. Congratulations are due to the industry and all of those ARCs who’ve become ECHO-connected to enable a secure and more efficient method supporting the deployment of police responders to incidents. Our work to facilitate ARCs registered with Essex Police to become ECHO-connected will continue to be a key focus until all are on-board.”

ARCs registered with the Metropolitan Police Service, Essex Police and/or Avon & Somerset Police (which is planning to be ECHO-connected from April) and yet to transmit alarm signals via ECHO should contact their alarm monitoring software provider and ECHO for assistance with connection.

*Visit the ECHO website at www.echo.uk.net to keep up-to-date with the latest ECHO-connected ARCs and/or follow ECHO on LinkedIn by searching for ECHO (Electronic Call Handling Operations Ltd).

Key roles for industry bodies

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the Fire Industry Association (FIA), the Fire and Security Association (FSA) at the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) have all played key roles in developing and implementing the ECHO initiative.

The BSIA, of course, represents multiple sectors of private security in the UK. Its members provide over 70% of the UK’s security products and services and they adhere to strict quality standards. For more information visit www.bsia.co.uk

The FIA is the largest fire protection-centric Trade Association in the UK with 850-plus members. It’s a not-for-profit organisation and a major provider of fire safety training. The FIA’s main objective is to promote, improve and perfect fire protection methods, devices, services and apparatus. Further information is available online at www.fia.uk.com

The FSA is the leading Trade Association dedicated to companies who design, install, commission, maintain and monitor electronic fire, emergency and security systems. As a specialist group of the ECA and working in partnership with SELECT, the Scottish electrotechnical Trade Association, the FSA is uniquely positioned to improve industry standards and enhance and develop members’ businesses. Access the website at www.fireandsecurityassociation.co.uk for more detail.

The NSI is an independent third party certification body approving more than 1,800 companies for a wide range of services in the security and fire safety sectors. For 50-plus years now, the NSI has been protecting businesses, homeowners and the general public by providing rigorous auditing delivered through its highly-trained team of in-house experts. The buyers of security services who choose NSI approved companies can be assured of security and fire safety services delivered to British and International Standards by businesses wholly committed to quality and also compliant with industry Codes of Practice. For more information visit www.nsi.org.uk