Alarms

Every year we receive a number of complaints about premises or vehicle alarms that are constantly ringing and causing a disturbance.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we can take action against you if your alarm rings continuously and causes a nuisance to your neighbours. In some cases we can get a warrant to enter your premises and disconnect the alarm, the person responsible for the alarm would have to pay our costs for doing this.

Registering your alarm and key holder details

The ‘Code of practice on noise from audible intruder alarms’ recommends that within 48 hours of fitting a premises alarm or taking over an existing one you should.

• Provide the names and phone numbers of a least 2 key-holders to the police in writing. (However if the alarm has been set of accidentally it is likely the police will pass the matter to us to deal with as a noise nuisance. For this reason we also hold key-holder details).
• The alarm should be fitted with a device that automatically stops it from ringing after a maximum of 20 minutes from when it started.

The form to tell us about your premises alarm and your nominated key-holders can be completed on-line by using the ‘premises alarm notification form’ link below.

You should also print a copy of this form and send it to the police. Their address is supplied within the form.

Our leaflet called ‘premises and vehicle alarms’ which you can view or download from the document section below, gives more advice and information about the law and how to prevent causing a nuisance. Or to find out more about noise nuisance you can follow the link below to our noise page.

If you require any further advice you may contact us by phone on 01702 318111 and ask for the Environmental Protection Unit, or e-mail customerservices@rochford.gov.uk