If you have a burglar alarm and it is allowed to activate for long periods of time you may be causing a your neighbours annoyance and could also cause a Noise Nuisance.

If a complaint is made about a noisy burglar alarm, Officers from the Council will visit and will have to witness the noise from within the complainant’s property. If the noise is likely to cause a Noise Nuisance the Officers are obliged to serve an Abatement Notice requiring the alarm to be turned off.

If after a reasonable amount of time, no one has turned off the alarm or if the residents have gone on holiday the Officers will have to take formal action to turn off the alarm. This will involve

• Officers obtaining a Court Warrant to enter the property.
• Officers entering the property with a warrant
• The alarm being disabled and in some cases the door locks being changed and left at the police station for collection.
• The council charging the occupant of the property for the costs involved in this.

In addition the officers can take a prosecution, against the occupant of the property, in the Magistrates Court which may lead to a maximum fine of £5,000 for a private individual, or £20,000 for business.

If you have a burglar alarm you should: -

• Make sure your alarm meets relevant British Standards. Check this with your alarm installer/engineer.
• Get your alarm regularly serviced and maintained by a reputable contractor.
• Ensure your alarm has a suitable device fitted to cut off the alarm after 20 minutes.
• If you go away make sure your neighbours know who you have designated as your key holder how to get hold of them.