ECHO support to police alarm response in intruder and hold-up alarm activations is running at a rate of over 40,000 incidents per year. It means these incidents have secured a speedier, effectively prioritised response saving typically between 1 and 4 minutes, as estimated by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Since launching in April 2021 ECHO connectivity signalling Intruder and Hold-up alarm activations to the police now serves 11 ECHO-connected police forces and over 300,000 police approved alarm systems protecting sites and premises.

ECHO’s influence as a deterrent against intruder and hold-up crime is on the rise. In 2022, Essex Police, the Met Police, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, City of London Police and Northumbria Police became ECHO-connected. Early in 2023 they were joined by Bedfordshire Police, Kent Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Northamptonshire Police and Greater Manchester Police.

According to police estimates, ECHO significantly reduces response times to 'confirmed' alarm activations, saving up to four minutes once any of the 37 ECHO-connected ARCs (approved Alarm Receiving Centres) validates alarm signals. ECHO automatically transfers alarm activation signals from the ARCs to police control rooms, replacing legacy manual voice calling procedures, and accelerating ‘stand-down’ of responders where an alarm may be discovered as false prior to police arrival, in all cases helping improve public safety and police effectiveness.

Ciaron Irvine Deputy Chief Constable, Durham Constabulary and NPCC Lead for the Security Systems Group commented: “Having a direct impact on police deployment and effectiveness at a rate of 40,000 incidents a year is no mean feat! The inroads in police control room efficiencies and police responders’ impact at the scene of intruder and hold up incidents in those 11 ECHO-connected forces areas is remarkable. Other forces looking closely at how they can get ECHO-connected are encouraged to do so at the earliest opportunity.”.

In all up to a million residential and commercial users - including retail outlets - of professionally installed Intruder and Hold-up alarm systems (installed by NSI or SSAIB approved installers) are set to benefit as more police forces across the UK get ECHO-connected during 2023/24.

Martin Harvey, founding Director of ECHO, commented: "Enabling a speedier and more effective alarm response to over 40,000 police response incidents a year is testimony to the impact ECHO is having with just 11 forces ECHO-connected. Looking forward, the countrywide impact is set to be truly remarkable. It justifies the NPCC vision and the security industry’s commitment to delivery improved security in collaboration with the police, assisting efficiency in the deployment of police resources, faster police response and crime deterrence.

"ECHO now supports Intruder and Hold-up police response alarm systems in over 300,000 residential, commercial and public sector sites and buildings offering homeowners, commercial and publicly operated properties of all sizes a greater degree of assurance with speedier and more effective police response. ECHO is standing by to engage with any police force wishing to prioritise its ECHO connection."

Approved installers are encouraged to check with their ARC providers regarding ECHO support for their customers' Intruder and Hold-up alarm systems.