If you have an audible burglar alarm fitted to your home or business you have a responsibility to ensure that the risk of persistent ringing due to false alarms is kept to a minimum.
If you fail to do so, the Council has powers to take action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the London Local Authorities Act 1991. If an abatement notice is served and ignored you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 for domestic premises or £20,000 for commercial premises.
You must:
Ensure that the system is fitted and maintained to comply with current British Standards. Proper installation and regular routine maintenance of equipment is essential
Ensure that the audible alarm is fitted with a 20-minute cut out device. It is advisable to inform your insurance company that a 20-minute cutout device has been fitted
You must register 2 nominated key-holders to the police key-holder database. This can be done in 2 ways:
Free registration for storing minimal information can be done by telephoning 0800 197 7711 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday (charges from a mobile may vary)
Premium registration for which there is an annual charge and can be done by telephoning 0870 060 1212 national rate between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday (charges may vary from a mobile) or visit www.metkeyholders.org.uk
Should a nominated key-holder cease to hold keys for access, then the alarm-holder must notify the Police key-holder database of another nominated key-holder.
If an audible alarm causes nuisance and Pollution Control Officers cannot trace the owner/occupier or the nominated key-holders then a warrant can be obtained from a Justice of the Peace to enter the premises and carry out works necessary to abate the nuisance.
This could involve obtaining the services of a competent engineer and changing the locks of your property. The Council will charge you for the costs incurred.
Complain about an audible intruder alarm
To complain about an audible intruder alarm call 020 8583 5555 during working hours and your complaint will be passed to the Pollution Control Team. On a Friday/Saturday night between 10pm and 4am call 020 8583 2222 - an operator will pass on your complaint to the Noise Team.
Please be patient as the process to have an alarm silenced normally takes a number of hours, particularly as a warrant has to be obtained from a Justice of the Peace.
Contact us
You can contact us using the details below:
Pollution Control Team
Street Management & Public Protection Department
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Fax: 020 8583 5350
Tel: 020 8583 5555
E-mail: pollution@hounslow.gov.uk