SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
FEBRUARY 22, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: January 22, 1996
Dept. File No: PRA/alarm.rtc
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Chief Constable
SUBJECT: By-law Amendment to Security Alarm System By-law 7111
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the Security Alarm System By-law be amended to require
alarm companies who provide a monitoring service with an alarm
system user ensure the user holds a current Security Alarm
System Permit; and
B. THAT the Security Alarm System By-law be amended to require
alarm monitoring services to report the premises' Security
Alarm System Permit number when reporting an alarm incident to
the Vancouver Police Department.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no relevant Council policy.
PURPOSE
This report recommends a change in the Security Alarm System By-law to
make the by-law more effective in the regulation of alarm system users
and alarm monitoring services.
BACKGROUND
The Security Alarm System By-law #7111 was passed on May 18, 1993 and
became effective on July 5, 1993. At the same time the False Alarm
Reduction Program was created. Since then the by-law and program have
been very effective at reducing the unnecessary use of police resources
responding to false alarms. To further improve the effectiveness of the
False Alarm Reduction Program, the number of false alarm incidents
reported to the Police Department by alarm monitoring services from non-
permitted alarm systems must be reduced. The reduction will improve the
Department's ability to deliver other police services. Currently, non-
permitted alarm users are responsible for 25% of alarm calls for
service. Most alarm users without permits are commercial/business
premises. Many businesses reap the benefit of reduced insurance costs
associated to a monitored alarm system on their premises, while failing
to comply with the Security Alarm System By-law. Operating without a
permit, these businesses continue to generate a high number of false
alarms, largely due to faulty alarm systems. In the past,
users with permits have repaired their faulty systems which were
identified by the False Alarm Reduction Program. This has significantly
reduced false alarms calls. Compliance by commercial/business premises
will achieve the same positive effect. Additionally, commercial
premises are frequently larger than residences which increases the
average officer time of thirty minutes per call to ensure the premises
are secure. Enforcement involves a lengthy investigative process to
title search the company, locate and serve the appropriate company
Director or Officer. Compliance with by-law permit provisions is
anticipated to significantly reduce the demand for police services.
DISCUSSION
The Vancouver Charter provides the power to regulate persons engaged in
the business of selling or maintaining such alarm systems and the
employees of such persons. Regulations are needed to require alarm
monitoring services to report alarm incidents from alarm users who are
lawfully complying with the provisions of the by-law in that they have a
permit. A by-law amendment will require that alarm companies who intend
to provide a monitoring service with an alarm system user shall first
ensure that the user holds a valid alarm permit. Currently, some alarm
monitoring services do not differentiate between those who possess a
permit from those who do not. Alarm monitoring services would then be
required to provide the Police Department with the permit number of the
alarm system when reporting the alarm incident to the Police Department.
ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF ALARM USERS WITHOUT ALARM PERMIT
A. TOTAL ALARM 36,000 100%
USERS
B. ALARM USERS 5,000 14%
WITHOUT PERMIT
C. COMMERCIAL/BUS 3,750 75% (% OF B)
INESS ALARM
USERS WITHOUT
PERMIT
ANNUAL ALARM INCIDENT STATISTICS
A. Total alarm 25,000 100%
incidents
B Alarms 23,750 95%
reported by
alarm
monitoring
service
C. Total false 23,250 93%
alarms (% of
A)
D. False alarms 22,000 88%
reported by
alarm
monitoring
service(% of
B)
As a result of recommended amendments, Police workload is projected to
be reduced:
(a) alarm system users repair malfunctioning alarm systems thereby
reducing the number of false alarms reported to the Police;
(b) a reduction in alarm calls represents a savings in patrol
officer time and department resources, as previously reported
to Council;
(c) a reduction in workload in the Communications Section results
from fewer alarm incident calls from alarm monitoring
services;
(d) less reliance on the timely process involved in by-law
enforcement to achieve compliance with the by-law,
particularly burgeoning court costs;
(e) placing the responsibility with the alarm industry, rather
than the Police Department, to conduct business only with
alarm system users who comply with the requirements of the by-
law; and
(f) an increase in revenue generated by alarm permit sales.
Alarm incidents reported to the police department by citizens will not
require the reporting of the permit number. Incidents reported by alarm
monitoring services, where they are unable to provide an alarm permit
number will continue to be investigated. Enforcement action may then be
commenced for the offence, by the alarm monitoring service, for failing
to report an alarm permit when reporting an alarm incident.
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The by-law amendment will reduce the demand for police services in
responding to false alarms. This enables the police to devote
additional time to Community-Based Policing initiatives and thereby be
available to address social concerns.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
There would be a positive financial impact on alarm permit sales. An
increase of 5,000 to the current 31,000 alarm permits could be expected
to generate $60,000 to $70,000, annually.
IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION PLAN
The alarm industry is aware of the proposal which was communicated to
them in June and September of this year. This recommended by-law
amendment is a consequence of the reluctance of a number of alarm
monitoring services to comply with the request. Advertisements were
placed in all local Vancouver Newspapers during the week of September
18. Upon approval of by-law amendments written notice will be
communicated to the alarm industry.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Director of Legal Services be directed to
amend By-law 7111 being the Security Alarm System By-law , to require
that alarm companies ensure that the alarm system users they do business
with hold a current alarm permit. Furthermore, when subsequently
reporting an alarm incident to the Police Department, the alarm
monitoring services be required to report this permit number.
CONCLUSION
The Security Alarm System By-law and the False Alarm Reduction Program
have been successful in reducing false alarms and the expenditure of
police resources. Over 30,000 alarm users have complied with the by-
law. The requested changes in the by-law will reduce the number of
false alarms and compel by-law compliance by all alarm users.
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