NSW Police Forcewww.pollce.nsw.gov.au

29 April 2010Bryan de CairesChief Executive OfficerAustralian Security Industry Association Ltd (ASIAL)PO Box 1338Crows Nest NSW 1585

Dear 6l*

As you are aware, on 1 December 2008 the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) changed the

way it dealt with calls from security companies reporting alarm activations. This

change included the introduction of the 1900 Direct Access Service (DAS) initiative.

The aim of this initiative was to ensure that NSWPF will achieve its strategy ofreducing non-genuine alarm calls and responding more effectively to genuine alarm

activations. The initiative also aimed to provide a benefit to security industry members

in that members could quickly and accurately inform the NSWPF to the status ofmonitored alarms that have been triggered at their clients' premises, so as to enable the

NSWPF to respond more effectively.

The New South Wales Police Force has now undertaken an analysis of the impact ofthe Direct Access Service in the first twelve months of its operation. The analysis

identifies that the strategy has been effective in reducing the number of alarm

activations reported to NSWPF, though there has been no improvement to thepercentage of non-genuine alarms being reported.

Our analysis shows, when comparing the calendar year 2009 with 2008; that the

strategies have been successful in reducing the number of alarm activations recorded

by NSW Police Force by 650/o, which equates to over 52,000 incidents. Further

analysis of the 2009 data indicates that police were requested to attend close to 28,000

alarm activation events. On closer analysis, it was identified that only 6% of these

events were confirmed as genuine activations by attending Police.

In summary, the strategy has been effective in reducing the number of alarmactivations reported to NSWPF, though there has been no improvement to thepercentage of non-genuine alarms being reported.

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As indicated recently in a meeting with ASIAL members, the New South Wales Police

Force is examining ways to further reduce the impact of non-genuine alarm

activations. My purpose in writing to you is to inform you that the NSW Police Force

will commence to utilise the provisions of Section209 of the Police Act more

vigorously than it has in the past, as a means to further reduce the number of reports ofnon- genuine alarm act ivations.

Section 209 of the Police Act empowers the Commissioner of Police to charge a fee of$200, where Police respond to a false alarm on more than one occasion within any 28

day period, where the premise is a building.

When reviewing the reported alarm incidents for one month, it was found that 114

instances were identified where Police had attended a building on more than one

occasion, where they deemed that the alarm was a false activation. In future, the NSWPolice Force will utilise Section 209 and impose the fee of $200 on the person who isresponsible for the alarm system; be it the occupier of owner of the building.

I would ask that you advise your members of these alrangements. The intention of the

NSW Police Force is that we will cofirmence reviewing our events from I June 2010.

From that date, the NSW Police Force will send letters of demand to the relevant

person where a member of the NSW Police Force responds to a false alarm on more

than one occasion within any period of 28 days.

As usual, I would be happy to discuss this or any other issue regarding alarms, ifrequired. feel free to contact me.

s BeatsonDirector

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