Audible intruder alarms
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the alarm fitted to your house or business premise could be considered a statutory nuisance should it sounding for an extended period of time.
If the Council is satisfied that a statutory nuisance is being caused, an abatement notice will be served on the property, usually giving one hour for the alarm to be turned off. We will normally try to find a keyholder during this time, however, if after that time, the alarm is still causing a nuisance, then the Council can either silence the external sounder to the alarm or may obtain a Magistrates Warrant allowing forced entry into the property, to enable the alarm to be switched off.
The Council has the power to recover all the costs incurred for entering the property and disabling the alarm back to the owner/ occupier of the property.
What can you do?
To try to prevent problems before they happen, you should take the following steps:-
- Ensure that the alarm is properly fitted, with sensors in the appropriate places. If you are fitting the alarm yourself, follow the manufacturers guidelines.
- Make sure you, members of your family or staff and any keyholders (see below) know how to switch off the alarm, including any backup device the alarm may have.
- Ensure that the alarm is fitted with a cut out device, to silence the alarm bell after a maximum period of 20 minutes.
- Notify the Police and East Hampshire District Council of at least two keyholders (other than the occupier of the premises) available to attend if called at any time. Alternatively, a company providing a ‘keyholder service’ and available to attend 24 hours a may may be employed and their details given to the Council.
We require the following information when dealing with an audible intruder alarm: location of the house, duration of the alarm souding, any identification markings on the alarm box, name and location of the occupier (if known). Please note that as a warrant is required it may take several hours to silence the alarm.
Useful Contacts
Pollution Team
East Hampshire District Council
Penns Place
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU31 4EX
Tel: 01730 234360
Hampshire Police - Free keyholder registration scheme
0845 045 45 45