Sudbury police spent 1,112 hours in 2021 responding to false alarms
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is looking for ways to reduce the number of false alarms officers respond to every year.
In 2021, 93 per cent of security alarms that police responded to were false, adding up to 1,112 hours spent investigating false emergencies.
Under the current system, security companies that can’t verify that the alarm is false call police to go to the scene to investigate, said a report reviewed by the police services board Nov. 23.
“Responding to false alarms has long been identified as consuming a significant amount of police resources,” the report said.
“Over the years, police services have examined a number of approaches to ensure the right response in these instances, and to ensure police resources are used appropriately.”
In 2001, police adopted a false alarm bylaw that charged companies fees for responding to calls that turn out to be fake. Despite having to pay more than $27,004 in fees in 2021, the bylaw has not reduced the number of false alarms.
“While it was envisioned that imposing registration and false alarm fees, there would be a decrease in the numbers, there have been very little change in the number of false alarms that are being registered every year,” the report said, adding the calls make up seven per cent of all calls police received last year.
The calls are particularly time-consuming because two officers must be dispatched because of the potential dangers of responding to a remote site if the call turns out to be real.
To address the problem, police are proposing putting the onus on security companies to verify whether the call is legitimate before calling for a police response. It’s called a verified alarm response policy (VARP).
“A verified response program requires that the alarm company verify criminal activity rather than use police as a third party to confirm or determine if an alarm is false,” the report said.
“This will eliminate the police acting as a third-party agent with home/business owners and alarm companies.”
Under this scenario, police would only respond if these conditions are met:
-- Audio sensors that provide the alarm or monitoring company with the ability to confirm criminal activity by the sounds detected within the premises.
-- A video system that provides the alarm company or monitoring service with the ability to confirm criminal activity through visual images.
-- Confirmation made by an owner, key holder, an alternate response agency, or a witness on scene who can confirm the existence of a suspected criminal act; or
-- The alarm was triggered by multiple activation points i.e., at least two separate/different sensors and the alarm company or monitoring system determines the manner or sequence of activation indicates that suspected criminal activity is or has taken place.
While security companies don’t like the new process, the report said police forces where it has been tried have made significant progress in reducing the number of false alarms.
The next step will be to communicate with security companies and train 911 operators, followed by a one-year trial period, will a full review after six and 12 months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.