A guide to police alarm monitoring & response
Not every monitored alarm gets police attendance in the same way. Here's how Type A and Type B response actually work, how a confirmed alarm avoids false call-outs, and why certification matters.
Not sure what response level you have?
Tell us about your current alarm and we'll explain what level of police response it supports.
Type A vs Type B response
UK police response to a monitored alarm falls into one of two categories, and which one you get depends on how your system is set up and monitored.
Direct police contact
Type A response includes a URN (Unique Reference Number), which lets the alarm receiving centre contact police operations control rooms directly. It's the route generally suited to higher-security installations, where a fast, direct escalation matters most.
Standard response route
Type B is a lower-security response route - it doesn't carry the same URN access into police operations control rooms that Type A does. It still gets your alarm activation seen by the monitoring centre, just via a different escalation path.
Not sure which response type fits your property? See our alarm system comparison for how monitored options differ, or speak to our team directly.
How a confirmed alarm avoids false call-outs
Police forces need a way of knowing an activation is genuine before they attend. That's done through one of two confirmation methods, both built around smart, connected sensors and equipment.
Sequential confirmation
Two different sensors must trigger within 30 minutes of each other before the police are contacted, ruling out a single false activation before it's escalated.
Audio confirmation
A speaker and microphone unit lets a monitoring operator listen in and verify a genuine emergency - often combined with CCTV video verification - before escalating to police.
Want a system built around confirmed alarm?
We'll talk you through the sensors and monitoring setup needed to qualify for police response.
Your installer and monitoring centre must be SSAIB or NSI certified
To achieve police response with your alarm system, your alarm installer and alarm monitoring centre both need to be either SSAIB or NSI certified. This isn't optional paperwork - under the national police security-systems policy, police forces in England and Wales only respond to alarms from systems that have been installed and are monitored by an NSI or SSAIB-certified company.
That applies whatever hardware sits behind it, whether that's a traditional wired system or a best wireless alarm setup - the certification of the installer and the monitoring centre is what qualifies the response, not the equipment brand.
Why certification matters
- SSAIB accredited installation & monitoring
- Free no-obligation quote
- Most quotes done in 10 min
Police response - frequently asked questions
Type A response includes a URN (Unique Reference Number), which allows the alarm receiving centre to contact police operations control rooms directly - it's the route used for higher-security installations. Type B is a lower-security response route that doesn't carry that direct URN access into police operations.
Police response is most commonly associated with intruder alarms, but audio and video verification can also involve monitored CCTV as supporting evidence. If you're also looking at door entry or access management, see our access control system guide for how that fits alongside a monitored alarm.
You need an alarm that supports confirmed activation (sequential or audio), monitored by an SSAIB or NSI certified alarm receiving centre, installed by a certified installer. Compare how different monitored options stack up on our alarm system comparison page, or speak to our team and we'll confirm what your current system supports.
A family-run team you can actually talk to
AMCO is SSAIB accredited from installation through to monitoring - see what our customers say, or meet the team behind the systems we install.
Free, no-obligation
Ready to get a quote?
Most quotes are done over the phone in under 10 minutes. No pushy sales - just honest advice from a family-run UK security company, and check our current discounts before you call.
Get your free AMCO security quote
Tell us a little about what you'd like to protect and a member of our family-run team will be in touch - no pressure, no jargon.
- Most quotes sorted in minutes by phone
- SSAIB accredited · 100% insurance compliant
- Spring offer: up to £100 off installation
Covering England, Scotland & Wales