Burglar alarms sounding off for long periods of time cause considerable distress for neighbours and can constitute a statutory nuisance.
When answering such complaints it is common to find that the keyholder or occupier is away e.g. on holiday and certain actions have to be taken by the council to silence the alarm.
Councils have a duty to inspect their areas to detect whether a nuisance exists or is likely to occur/ recur.
The council must also take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate any complaint of statutory nuisance from people living in its area.
where a council is satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists or is likely to occur/ recur it should serve an Abatement Notice.
This is a legal document which requires the person responsible for the alarm to stop the nuisance.
The main objectives when receiving an alarm complaint are to determine:
1. If a statutory nuisance is occurring or has occurred.
2. If the alarm ringing is still causing nuisance, if it is we will take steps to:-
a) Make sure that a ringing alarm does not continue ringing for a prolonged period.
b) Make sure that:
i) The alarm is serviced properly to meet British Standards
ii) Two keyholders' names are identified and accessible to any investigating agency i.e. the
council or police.
iii) A 20-minute cut off device is fitted.
Once we receive a complaint we will need to ask the following questions:-
1. Is the alarm still sounding?, many complaints are about alarms that have sounded and then stopped
2. What is the address of the property?
3. How long has the alarm been sounding?
4. Is it a bell, siren or other sound?
5. Is it continuous or is it going off for 20 minutes cutting out and then re-priming.
6. Does the you know how long the occupier is likely to be away and do you know his/her name?
7. Is there a name and telephone number on the alarm box and what are the details?
8. Have you telephoned the police?, if so did they:-
i) have the names of keyholders?
ii) say if the keyholders are going to turn off the alarm?
iii) say if they had checked to see if a crime had occurred?
If the alarm is still ringing and it is clear that the keyholders or the occupier is not available, the Environmental Protection Unit takes the following steps:-
1. Checks details against the alarm holder register.
2. Contacts the Housing Department to check if it is a council property and if they have details.
3. Checks with Council Tax (Treasurers) for any possible details.
4. Contacts the police for details.
5. Contacts potential keyholders.
6. Contacts the alarm company for any details.
7. Witnesses the alarm ringing for at least 20 minutes to determine if it is causing a statutory nuisance
8. Prepares an Abatement Notice.
9. Serves the Notice requiring the nuisance to stop.
10. Follows up and investigates any information gained on the visit.
11. Arranges contractors to disconnect the alarm.
12. Gets a Warrant from the courts to enter the premises and/or disconnect the alarm.
13. Cuts the alarm off - (Executing the Warrant)
14. Prepares an explanation letter to the person responsible for the alarm.
This service is currently provided within Council office hours:
Mon. - Thurs 08:30 - 17:00
Fri08:30 - 16:30
Carrying out this process can take several hours and involve at least two officers, the police, and a locksmith/alarm engineer.
The council is duty bound to recover any costs from the moment the abatement notice is served on the property. This can cost the person responsible for the alarm £200 - £300.
The council runs a free, confidential, alarm registration service, where the details of your alarm keyholders are stored so that a nuisance alarm can be stopped by making a phone call and so avoid unnecessary time and expense.
The council's alarm registration form can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
Burglar Alarm Registration Form 2006
(This document is created using Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on Adobe if you need to download this software.)
The Environmental Protection Unit on 0151 356 6740
e-mail us by completing the form below:
Environmental Protection enquiry / complaint form
or write to us at
The Council Offices
4 Civic Way
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 0BE
