Security firm custom boost expected

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 6

Security firm custom boost expected

Christchurch security firms are expecting a big boost in business when the police hand over the responsibility for attending intruder-alarm callouts from February 1.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson, said yesterday that the new policy was aimed at cutting down “an unacceptable amount of time spent on unproductive work, when there are more urgent matters of law enforcement and crime,” the Press Association reported. A police survey of intruder alarms and security services in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Napier showed that more than 95 per cent of alarm call-outs were to false alarms. The Christchurch operations manager for Securitas, Mr Colin Brown, said last evening that in the long run the new policy would probably double business for Securitas. This would mean a turnover increase of “tens of thousands” of dollars. “We were aware that this policy would probably be introduced and are • ready to provide an alarm call-out service for more clients,” he said. “We expect more business from the policy because not many people are keen on inspecting their premises when an alarm goes off, in case they are put in danger.

“For each half-hour of an alarm call-out we charge $l9. Most false alarms can be attended and reset in that time.”

The new policy reflected a growing recognition by the police and the community of security firms’ role, Mr Brown said.

“After a while I think the new policy will be accepted by most people given the number of false alarms that the police have had to attend.”

Armourguard’s management was unwilling to comment on the new policy last evening. The president of the Canterbury-Westland Retailers’ Association, Mr Mark Ballantyne, said that it was probably unfair that the police should have to follow up all alarm call-outs when so many of them were false.

“Most retailers are small and have the benefit of mall security patrols or secure lock-ups in the city,” he said. “The effect of the new policy on retailers will therefore probably not be that great.”

The director of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, Mr lan Howell, said that the new policy would not require much change from manfacturers because most of them had alarms already linked to a security firm. “The police had recommended that manufacturers use the security firms’ services for some years now because of the number of false alarms,” he said.

"Most manufacturers would be happy with the new policy, which is in line with general user-pay policy.” Mr Thompson said each call-out took about an hour, adding the time of all officers involved and including travel to the premises, waiting for the keyholder, checking the building and the subsequent paperwork. The police survey showed that the police attended 45,197 alarm activations; 32.1 per cent of all incidents covered by the force, but 43,254 of these were false alarms, most caused by faulty equipment or human error.