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Audible Intruder Alarms are widely used to protect property from unauthorised entry. Unfortunately they may be triggered by a fault in the system causing a noise problem for nearby neighbours, especially if it occurs frequently.
Complaints are usually due to the duration of the alarm rather than to the actual volume. Under the Control of Pollution (Code of Practice on Noise from Audible Intruder Alarms) Order 1982, it is recommended that all alarm systems should have an automatic cut off device fitted to stop the alarm sounding after 20 minutes. If you live within the Stratford-on-Avon District Council area you should log details of reliable key holders to your premises with the Council's Environmental Protection Team. This is not a legal obligation, but can save time and expense if your alarm goes off.
These details are kept on a confidential database and the key-holders are only contacted if your alarm is reported as sounding. These details will not be passed to any third party without your consent.
What do I do if an alarm is going off?
- If you suspect a forced entry to the property contact the police immediately.
- Talk to neighbours to see if there are any key-holders and when the owners are expected to return
- If the alarm continues after 20 minutes then contact the Council's Environmental Protection Team on 01789 267575
We will check our database to see if a key-holder exists. If it does, then we will contact them to disable the alarm.
If no details are available, or the key-holder is not available, and it is not known if the householders are due home soon then an officer will visit to assess the noise for nuisance. If the noise from the alarm is deemed to be a Statutory Nuisance then formal action will be taken by the officer. This will involve the service of a Noise Abatement Notice under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If the notice is not complied with - i.e. the sounder turned off within 20 minutes - the officer will arrange for an alarm company to disable the alarm from the outside. This may mean that the property is no longer covered by the alarm until reset.
Any costs incurred by the Council will be recovered from the owner. This could amount to several hundred pounds if over a Bank Holiday weekend. We would prefer not to take this kind of action and if alarm holders could register a key-holder who could be contacted 24 hours a day this could save money and be less irritating to neighbours.
What You Can do
- Complete a key-holder's form (Alarm Registration Form). This can be downloaded from the links on the right.
- Ensure your alarm has a 20-minute cut-off and is serviced on a regular basis
- When taking over an existing alarm have it serviced to ensure it is working correctly.
Remember:
Your alarm is there to protect your property, but if the alarm sounds often it may be ignored and is therefore not doing its intended job. If you are unable to take your complaint forward, or you wish to deal with the problem yourself, you can make a complaint under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Contact the Clerk to the Magistrates' at your local court and explain that you wish to make a complaint under Section 80 of the above Act.
'Out of Hours' Noise
If you experience noise nuisance outside of normal office hours you should contact our call handling service on 01789 414066 to lodge your complaint. This will then be attended to as soon as possible during the next working week.
For further information please contact the Environmental Protection team on 01789 267575, or by emailing envhealth@stratford-dc.gov.uk
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