RBH to install monitored burglar alarms

Date published: 15/01/2008

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) wrote to tenants and asked for comments on the proposal to install monitored burglar alarms with 24-hour response in all Council properties. There was an excellent response – one of the best RBH have had and the proposal was given a big "thumbs-up’.

The overwhelming majority (99%) of the 2,070 that responded think that monitored alarms are an exceptionally good idea. Comments ranged from "best idea RBH has ever had", "should have been done five or six years ago", "sooner the better", "thank you RBH", to "provide peace of mind".

The scheme is a very large one as we are alarming all of our council houses. Therefore the length of time it will take to install in every property is likely to be about five to six years.

RBH will begin the project by converting the existing alarm systems to monitored systems and then move on to the properties without alarms. This will be after approximately two years. They will update tenants on progress regularly.

Trained engineers will take extra care not to damage decorations. They will explain how the system works and leave simple user guides. These instructions will be available in various languages in line with RBH policy.

Tenants with specific needs will be assessed individually when it is their turn to have the system installed.

Tenants who keep pets should bring it to the attention of the installation engineers who will do their best to take this into consideration.

If an alarm goes off the monitoring station will contact the response team and ring the tenant and the tenant's key holders.

The response team will view the exterior of the property for signs of a break-in and contact the police if appropriate.

The response team will be visible on estates and provide low-level intervention, e.g. they may ask a gang of youths to move on. RBH aim to develop this service during 2008-09.

In the unlikely event that the system develops a fault tenants will only ring the same telephone number used to report all other faults.

Tenants will need to set the system as normal before going on holiday or being away for any length of time. If there is an incident the monitoring station will contact key holders as well as the response team.

Audio support, if needed, will be provided with or without a panic button as appropriate.

Like the response team RBH aim to develop the audio support service during 2008-09.

Subject to final council approval RBH is aiming to get this service off the ground in 2008/09.