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Noise and Nuisance

Intruder Alarms

Intruder Alarm keyholder form

In the past alarm companies have had to provide local police with key holder details when they have installed an alarm.

If the alarm was activated and the homeowner was unable to be contacted a keyholder could be called.

The alarm company also had to tell the local council which police station held this information.

Last year Scotland Yard decided that police stations no longer had to keep this information and unfortunately this information has been destroyed.

The Metropolitan Police have now appointed an organisation called Dial Media Group to develop a secure keyholder database and to implement a marketing strategy.

Early in 2003 they will be launching a London wide campaign in the form or door-to-door distribution.

In the meantime, we have created our own secure database, which will allow our Noise and Nuisance team to deal with alarms causing a nuisance by contacting a key-holder directly.

If we do not have your key-holder details and your alarm should be ringing for more than 20 minutes, we may have to contact an alarm company to disconnect your alarm.

This would leave your property unprotected and you would also be responsible for any costs involved.

If you would like us to hold your details on our secure database please complete our online alarm keyholder form.

If you want more information or wish discuss this further, please contact us at the address shown.

This code of practice from pages 1 to 9 was approved, and
approval was given for its issue, by the Control of Noise (Code
of Practice on Noise from Audible Intruder Alarms) Order 1981
(SI 1981 No.1829) made under section 71 of the Control of
Pollution Act 1974 by the Secretary of State for the
Environment (in respect of England), the Secretary of State for
Wales (in respect of Wales), and the Secretary of State for
Scotland (in respect of Scotland). (In Northern Ireland this code
of practice from pages 1 to 9 was approved, and approval was
given for its issue by the Control of Noise (Code of Practice on
Noise from Audible Intruder Alarms) Order (Northern Ireland)
1982.) This code of practice came into operation on 1 February
1982 in England, Wales and Scotland (and on 1 July 1982 in
Northern Ireland).
Section 71 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 empowers the
Secretary of State to prepare and approve and issue such
codes of practice as in his opinion are suitable for the purpose
of giving guidance on appropriate methods for minimising noise.
Section 72 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 provides that
regard shall be had to any relevant provision of a code of
practice approved under section 71 of the Act in construing
references to 'best practicable means' in Part III (Noise) of the
Act.

Introduction
1.1. Noise made by the operation of audible intruder alarms is a frequent cause
of complaints. These relate mainly to the duration of ringing rather than to
the volume of noise produced. Owners and occupiers who seek to protect
their premises, whether private or commercial, by installing an audible
intruder alarm system, or by taking over an existing system on acquiring
premises, have a responsibility to ensure that a device fitted primarily for
their own benefit does not become a nuisance to the public at large.
1.2. This code of practice applies equally to all types of premises, and to all
types of intruder alarm systems incorporating audible signalling which is
clearly audible outside the premises protected. The code of practice should
be observed by people already responsible for alarm systems at the date of
its coming into operation as well as by people assuming responsibility for
systems after that date.
1.3. This code of practice, if followed by alarm-holders, their nominated keyholders,
the police and local authorities, should reduce the incidence of
nuisance caused by the ringing of intruder alarms. The code of practice
does not in itself create offences or have the force of law, but is intended to
be of assistance to local authorities and magistrates' courts* in the exercise
of their powers and functions under Part III of the Control of Pollution Act
1974.** (See paragraph 7.)
Definitions
2.1. In this code of practice:
a. an alarm-holder is the occupier or person otherwise responsible for
premises or a part of premises where an alarm system has been installed,
whether or not that person owns the alarm system;
b. a key-holder is a person nominated by an alarm-holder, who has been
authorised to gain access to and operate the controls of the alarm system to
* In the application of this code of practice in Scotland, references to a magistrates' court
should be construed as references to the sheriff .
** Control of Pollution Act 1974, Part III: Noise. Copies of the Act can be bought at Government
bookshops or through other booksellers. A layman's guide to the law on noise in England and Wales
is provided in a free booklet Bothered by Noise? -What you can do about it, obtainable from the
Department of the Environment.
In the application of this code of practice to Northern Ireland, references to the Control of Pollution
Act 1974 should be construed as references to the Pollution Control and Local Government
(Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

switch off the bell or other audible signal; an alarm-holder may, of course,
have nominated himself as a key-holder;
c. the key-holder response time means the interval between notification to
the key-holder that the alarm is sounding, and the arrival of the key-holder at
the premises to switch it off;
NB. This expression therefore does not mean the interval between
activation of the alarm signal and the silencing of the signal.
d. alarm condition means the condition of an alarm system whose audible
alarm signal has been activated, whether accidentally or otherwise, and
which has not been reset; in such a condition the alarm will either be
sounding or it will have been silenced by a cut out device.
Operating guidelines
Installation, maintenance and reliability
3.1. The best way to avoid needless disturbance to the public from audible
intruder alarms is by preventing false alarms. A large majority of occasions
when alarms are set off at present arise from faulty design, faulty
equipment, faulty installation or incorrect use. It is therefore of the first
importance that the system should be properly designed and installed, that it
should be maintained in good order, and that equipment which has proved
unreliable or ineffective should be replaced.
3.2. British Standard 4737 (1977/78/79) Specification for Intruder Alarm Systems
in Buildings* sets out specifications and procedures for the installation,
operation and maintenance of intruder alarm systems. Proper installation
and maintenance of alarm systems so as to conform to BS 4737 or
equivalent standards should help to reduce the incidence of faults and other
conditions leading to false alarms. This would reduce the number of
occasions on which the public is disturbed. It might also serve to make
members of the public more ready to assume that the activation of an alarm
has been caused by an intruder and to report it promptly.
3.3. Conformity with BS 4737 requires that an intruder alarm system should be
regularly maintained under a contract with an alarm company, with a
specified maximum interval between visits. Alarm-holders who have not
been required to undertake, in an agreement with insurers or for whatever
reason, that their alarm system will conform strictly to those maintenance
requirements of the BS 4737, should nevertheless be aware of its contents
and should adhere to comparable standards in the installation, operation
and maintenance of their systems.

Testing
3.4. Alarms should be fitted in such a way that they are not automatically set off
as part of the normal opening and closing procedure for the system. (This is also
specified in BS 4737.)
Identification
3.5. In situations where a number of premises which are close to one another are
protected by audible intruder alarm systems steps should be taken to make it as
easy as possible to identify the particular premises where an alarm is ringing.
This will help the police to get in touch with the appropriate key- holders as
quickly as possible. One way of facilitating identification is to fit a flashing light,
resistant to malicious interference, adjacent to the bell unit, to operate when the
audible alarm has been activated.
Automatic cut-out devices
4.1. In the interests of avoiding risks of serious disturbance to the public it is
desirable that audible intruder alarms should be fitted with an automatic cut- out
device. Such a device would automatically stop the ringing after a period of about
20 minutes from activation of the system. A cut-out device can be supplemented
with a flashing light which continues to operate after automatic termination of the
ringing, and indicates that the premises are still in alarm condition (see also
paragraph 3.5.).
4.2. In all cases where an automatic cut-out device is to be fitted, whether on the
initiative of the alarm-holder or as a result of action by the local authority, or
magistrates' court (see paragraph 7 below) , it is MOST IMPORT ANT for the
alarm-holder to inform his insurers. Alarm-holders should note that failure to
inform insurers could result in the failure of a claim in view of the breach of policy
conditions.
Nomination of key-holders to the police
5.1. The alarm-holder should
a. within 48 hours of installing a new alarm system or of taking over an
existing one, notify the police station covering the locality in which the
premises are situated, in writing, of the names, addresses and telephone
numbers of at least 2 key-holders. The nominated key-holders should be
well versed in operating and silencing the alarm. They should be telephone
subscribers and where necessary have their own means of transport. The
alarm-holder himself or a security firm may be nominated as key-holders.
Details of nominated key-holders should also be notified to the police by
those already responsible for an alarm system at the time this code of
practice comes into operation.
b. at the same time notify the local environmental health authority (the
District Council, London Borough Council, or, in Scotland, the District or

Islands Council) that the alarm has been newly installed, or that he has taken
over responsibility for an existing alarm system. Those already responsible for an
alarm system at the time this code of practice comes into operation should also
inform the local authority that an alarm is installed on their premises. In addition,
all alarm-holders should tell the local authority the address of the police station to
which notification has been made under paragraph 5.1a above.
c. notify changes in nominated key-holders to the police within 24 hours. This will
allow the local police to build up and maintain an accurate register of key-holders
for all alarm systems within their area.
5.2. Alarm installers and maintenance contractors should
i. provide, with each alarm they install or maintain, forms which alarm- holders
may use for nomination of key-holders to the police, for giving the police and local
authority initial information about alarm installations, and for notifying any
subsequent changes in that information; the Annex to this code of practice
contains a suggested layout for 2 forms on which the appropriate information
could be provided;
ii. give their customers, in a form suitable for display, reminders of the three
notification requirements stipulated in paragraph 5.1.;
iii. with a view to reducing the risk of false alarms occurring, provide clear printed
instructions on the operating procedure in a form suitable for display on or
adjacent to the control equipment {this is also a requirement of BS 4737).
5.3. Alarm-holders should in any event ensure that the operating instructions are
displayed on or adjacent to the control equipment, or are otherwise brought to the
attention of all persons concerned with the operation of the alarm system.
Key-holder response time
6.1. Where an alarm has not been fitted with an automatic cut-out device of the
kind described in paragraph 4.1., the alarm-holder should, when notifying the
names, addresses and telephone numbers of the key-holders to the police,
undertake that one or other of them will always turn out, and will take
responsibility for silencing the alarm within a specified period of time from
receiving notification that the alarm is ringing.
6.2. The key-holder response time should not normally exceed 20 minutes,
especially when the alarm is located close to noise-sensitive buildings, such as
hospitals and residential property. Unless specifically agreed to the contrary, it
should be assumed by all those concerned that the agreed response time is 20
minutes. In circumstances where it seems appropriate, however, a longer
response time may be agreed between the alarm-holder and the local authority
(who should inform the police), taking full account of environmental

considerations. Such an individually agreed response time should not exceed 45
minutes other than in very exceptional cases and should be clearly noted by the
police and the local environmental health authority on their records relating to the
alarm system in question.
6.3. Failure to respond within 20 minutes (or within such longer time as may have
been agreed) will be relevant to any consideration of whether a noise nuisance
has occurred in any particular case of prolonged ringing. The fact that the alarm
went off outside working hours, or that the key-holders were temporarily
unavailable, should not be allowed to justify failure to adhere to the response
time. It is up to the alarm-holder to ensure that one or other of the nominated keyholders
will always be available to silence the alarm within the appropriate
response time.
6.4. The police should note that the local authority may require information about
incidents involving the ringing of audible intruder alarms to be made available so
that it can decide whether action under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 should
be taken (see following paragraph).
Requirement to fit an automatic cut-out device
7.1. In cases where nominated key-holders are repeatedly unavailable or fail to
act within the appropriate response time, or repeated false alarms occur, the local
authority should be prepared to use its powers under Section 58 of the Control of
Pollution Act 1974 to require the alarm-holder to have an automatic cut-out device
(of the kind mentioned in paragraph 4) fitted to the system for which he is
responsible.
7.2. The exact circumstances would be for the local authority to decide. A
requirement to fit a cut-out to an alarm would probably be well justified, however,
after four episodes of prolonged ringing by that alarm in a period of 12 months.
An episode of prolonged ringing may be taken to mean an occasion when the
alarm continued to ring for a period of at least twice the agreed response time for
that alarm system, following notification to a key- holder that the alarm was
sounding, or, if it proved impossible to contact either or any of the key-holders
immediately, following attempted notification to a key-holder .
7.3. When extremely prolonged ringing had taken place without reasonable
excuse, similar action might be justified after only a single occurrence. A
requirement that a cut-out device be installed might also be reasonable in cases
where the number of false alarms was considered to be significantly greater than
average, even though the agreed response time had generally been adhered to.
7.4. Alarm-holders should be aware that local authorities have wide discretion in

laying down steps to be taken to abate a noise nuisance, by means of a notice
under section 58( 1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The recommendation in
paragraph 7.1. above should not be taken as excluding the possibility that an
alarm-holder may be required by a notice under section 58(1) to take steps
additional to, or other than, the fitting of a cut-out device. Any person on whom a
notice is served under section 58 (1) has a right of appeal to a Magistrates' court.
7.5. A Magistrates' court has powers under section 59 of the Control of Pollution
Act 1974 to make an order requiring abatement of a noise nuisance, on a
complaint by an occupier of premises affected by the noise. While this code of
practice is intended to be of assistance to magistrates' courts when considering
the use of these powers in cases involving noise from audible intruder alarms, it
does not limit their freedom to decide whether and in what terms to make an
abatement order.

ANNEX
Model forms tor notification of police and local authority
1. Paragraph 5.2. of this code of practice calls for alarm installers and
maintenance contractors to provide forms for use by alarm-holders in notifying the
police of the names of their nominated key-holders, or of any changes in their
nominated key-holders, and in notifying the local authority of the installation of
alarm systems or change in alarm-holder .
2. Suggested lay-outs for such forms are set out on the following pages of this
Annex. There may be cases where information not covered by the forms might
also be needed.
3. Where the maintenance of the alarm is not carried out by the alarm's owner,
the name of the maintenance contractor, with emergency telephone number if
any, should be entered for easy reference.
4. It may be helpful to alarm-holders if installers and maintenance contractors can
indicate to them the relevant addresses to which notifications should be sent,
namely, the police station covering the locality in which the premises are situated,
and the Environmental Health Department of the District Council; or (in Greater
London) the London Borough Council; or (in the Scottish Islands) the Islands
Council.
Printed in England for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Morris Printing Company Limited,
Norwich. Dd 717312. C25 1182
Further copies of this document may be freely downloaded
from www.brent.gov.uk/eh

Are you affected by intruder alarm noise?   Summary If you are being affected by a noisy intruder alarm on a domestic or commercial premises, contact us and we may be able to take action if it is causing a nuisance.   Details | Next Steps | Contact Details   When we to reports about about noisy intruder alarms. We initially contact the police to ascertain whether they hold any details of keyholders for the premises. If we are unable to contact any keyholders to switch the alarm off we will visit the premises to confirm that the alarm is causing a nuisance. If we consider it is a nuisance we will consider taking formal action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to switch the alarm off. We can serve a notice on the premises and employ a contractor to disable the alarm. This may include breaking into the premises if required. All costs incurred by the council will then be recovered by us at a later date from the owner of the premises.           Next Steps   First contact the police as the alarm may be operating correctly and the premises may have been broken into. Also, the Police hold details of keyholders for intruder alarms and may be able to contact the keyholder to have the alarm switched off. If the police are unable to assist, contact us with the details of the premises, including the address and how long the alarm has been ringing and whether it is ringing  intermittently or continuously. Legally, we cannot take anonymous complaints, so we need your personal details, including name, address and a contact telephone number.  Be assured, your personal details will be treated as confidential.  If you call us outside normal working hours you should use the out of hours emergency number.         Contact   Telephone: 020 8313 4830 Out-of-Hours-Emergency: 020 8464 4848 (5pm-8.30am and weekends) Fax: 020 8313 4450 e-mail: ehts.customer@bromley.gov.uk Address: Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH     Noise Service We offer a comprehensive noise service, which investigates complaints about noise from commercial and domestic sources. We provide this service during normal office hours and also on a Friday and Saturday night. We can help or advise you about noise from: Barking dogs Building sites Burglar alarms Car alarms Noisy deliveries Nightclubs Noisy neighbours Parties Pubs Noisy kitchen extracts and air conditioning units Roadworks We have no legal powers to deal with: Rowdy behaviour in public places Traffic and aircraft noise Quick Response Service For some noise problems, like car alarms and burglar alarms, that affect a large number of people, we operate a quick response service Monday to Fridays 9.a.m to 4p.m. We aim to investigate your complaint within 3 hours. How to contact us: By email: env.health@camden.gov.uk By telephone: 020 7974 2090 By fax: 020 7974 6955 In person: One Stop Reception on the 5th Floor Town Hall Extension, Argyle Street London WC1H 8EQ In writing: Environmental Health Team Environment Department London Borough of Camden Town Hall Extension, Argyle Street London WC1H 8EQ To contact our Weekend Noise Service team on Friday and Saturday nights from 10.00 pm to 4.00 am: Phone: 020 7278 4444 You can obtain more information on specific aspects of our noise service on the other pages of this section. The Environmental Health Team Service Charter tells you what to expect from us and lets you know what we expect from you.       Car and Intruder Alarms     Car and intruder alarms are particularly intrusive. If officers witness a car alarm which is sounding intermittently, or continuously at a level which is likely to cause a nuisance to local residents, a Statutory Notice, under the Noise and Statutory Nuisances Act 1993, can be served, and if within one hour, no owner can be found, a security company will be called and the alarm disconnected For intruder alarms a notice is also served, but a magistrate's warrant is required to gain entry to disable the alarm. A magistrates warrant is only required if the alarm is internal, it is not required to disconnect and alarm box that is external. For intruder alarms you are required by law to: ensure that is meets BS 4737 for the installation, operation and maintenance of the alarm ensure the alarm has a 20 minute cut-off device fitted Police no longer keep keyholder details so it is recommended that details of contacts be given to neighbours.     Pollution Enforcement Team Address: Environmental, Cultural and Sports Services Pollution Enforcement Team Taberner House Park Lane Croydon CR9 3BT   Phone: 0208 760 5483 Email: pollution@croydon.gov.uk

Burglar Alarms

What We Do

The noise from burglar alarms sounding for long periods can be very annoying for those who have to suffer it, but it can also be a shock for those persons responsible for the alarms should Enfield's Public Health Team have to deal with turning them off.

Officers are required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to serve a formal notice requiring that the noise nuisance from sounding burglar alarms be abated unless they are fitted with a cut-out device to prevent them sounding for long periods. This can also apply to internal sounders, which are connected to an outside siren or bell.

Should nominated keyholders not be available to be contacted to turn the alarm off, then it is possible for the Council to go to Magistrate's Court to apply for a warrant to enter the premises and turn the alarm off. This will be reset if possible and as the premises have to be left as secure as when they were found, it may require that the locks are changed if they have had to be drilled to gain entry. The person responsible for the alarm will then be billed for the costs that have been incurred in carrying out the works.

What We Would Like From You

However, this can all be avoided if alarm owners provide their details to the Metropolitan Police's scheme, so that they (or someone nearby) can be contacted in the event of an alarm sounding for a long time. A simple phone call to the keyholder could save a lot of expense and trouble.

How To Contact Us

For further details and the necessary forms to provide the required information, please telephone 020 8379 3663 or 020 8379 3662, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

 

Contact Us Help Site map A-Z of Services Emergency contacts

Alarms

Burglar alarms are a useful deterrent against burglaries. However if they ring for long periods of time they can become a serious noise nuisance. If you want to complain about a burglar alarm constantly ringing, call the Noise Line. By law, alarm owners have to:   Submit the details of two keyholders to the police Ensure the alarm has a 20 minute cut-out device When the noise team receives a complaint of a burglar alarm sounding, it tries to contact the keyholders. They should be able to let the Police into the property to check for a break-in and be able to turn it off and/or re-set the alarm or have the contact details of your alarm company. Ideally, the keyholders should live within 20 minutes of the property. When the keyholders are unable to help, council officers are entitled to break into the premises. If entry to a property is forced, police officers usually accompany council officers. If there is no access to the property then the alarm system is deactivated from outside. A nuisance alarm can lead to prosecution and fines can be incurred, in addition to the additional costs of breaking into the property.   Registering keyholders The Metropolitan Police has set up the Safer Homes initiative where it records the details of properties and keyholders in a secure database. Two levels of registration are offered. The standard service is free. A premium service is available at a cost and allows you to store extra information, which might help in the event of an incident.   For free keyholder registration on the Metropolitan Police Keyholder Database phone FREEPHONE 0800 197 7711 (charges from Repairss may vary). Access the premium service with its additional advantages or for more information visit www.metkeyholders.org.uk or call 0870 060 1212  (8am to 8pm, Mon to Fri) For more information Download the leaflet ‘Noise from burglar alarms’ below Noise from burglar alarms (pdf 9Kb) (To view this document, you will require Adobe Acrobat, this can be downloaded via the link on the right.)

Noise Service Environment Services Division Dorothy Hodgkin House 12 Reading Lane London E8 IHJ Tel: 020 8356 4589 020 8985 7711 Fax: 020 8356 4980 Email: info@hackney.gov.uk Web: www.hackney.gov.uk/environment.htm Main Aims: Part of the London Borough of Hackney Environment Division. If you are having a problem with noisy neighbours or want to avoid causing a problem, contact the Noise Service. They have the power to stop noise nuisance. (please see separate entry for Pollution Group). To make a complaint about noise nuisance please call the Noise Service on: 020 8985 7711. Weekend cover is as follows: 9pm FRI - 5am SAT, 9pm SAT - 5am SUN, 8pm SUN - 2am MON. Please leave a message and someone will respond. Extra Info: Council tenants should contact their Estate Manager between Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm. Opening Times: MON to FRI: 9am to 5pm (Office Hours). FRI, SAT and SUN: 10pm to 6am (Helpline - 020 8985 7711). An answerphone is available at all other times. Practice Boundaries: Hackney. Referrals: Not necessary. Disabled Access: Phone for details

environmental health

The Council’s Environmental Health group deals with:

• noise nuisance
• pest control
• pollution
• food safety
• public health
• infectious diseases
• health and safety at work
• street trading
• animal welfare
• private housing Repairs
• home improvement grants
• asbestos removal advice

Tel: 020 8489 5230
Minicom: 020 8885 7549  (for people with hearing or speech problems)

Address:
639 High Road,
Tottenham
N17 8BD

 

 

Burglar alarms - an occupier's guide || Burglar alarms are important security devices but they can be a nuisance if they are left to sound too long. To combat this problem we have taken on the provisions of the London Local Authorities Act 1991. This means that there are legal obligations for those that have burglar alarms. The Law Since 1995 everyone with an alarm must ensure that: It has a 20 minute cut-out device to stop it sounding after 20 minutes They have written to the local police giving the name and addresses of at least two keyholders able to get into the premises and deal with the alarm They have informed the council of the installation (within 48 hours of the installation) and said which police station has the keyholders’ contact details. Penalties Fines can be imposed for those that do not comply with the Act. The penalty for not installing a 20 minute cut-out device can be a fine of up to £5,000 and for not notifying keyholders there may be a fine of up to £500. Tips To avoid problems with burglar alarm systems, our advice is: Make sure the system is designed, installed and maintained to comply with the appropriate British Standard. Unreliable systems should be replaced The alarm sound should cut out after 20 minutes and can be replaced by a flashing light The contact details of two key-holders must be given (in writing) to a police station if you put in a new system or take over an old one. The police must be informed of any keyholder changes The Environmental Health Services Division must be told of any new alarm systems and which police station holds the keyholder’s details. Alarm installers and contractors often have forms to help you with this or you may contact Environmental Health Services The alarm should not be triggered during normal opening and closing operations. The council can take formal action where an alarm is ringing continuously and doesn’t cut out after 20 minutes. A legal notice can be served and if the noise continues, the council can go to a magistrate to obtain a warrant to enter the property. The alarm can then be turned off and any costs incurred are claimed from the person responsible. Further advice For more information please call the Environmental Health Services on 020 8424 1786, Monday – Friday between 9am and 5pm. Alternatively you could visit our enquiry desk, room 300 in the Civic Centre. It is advisable to either come on weekdays between 9am and 10.30am or ring 020 8424 1379 to make an appointment for between 9am and 4.30pm.

 

Premises Alarm Noise

Audible intruder alarms can be the cause of significant nuisance. They should normally be fitted with a 20 minute cut out device and key holders of properties with alarms should be notified to the police. Where the cut out device does not work and/ or the device is faulty in some other way that causes it to, for example repeatedly misfire, then we will serve a noise abatement notice on the occupier of the property. Where the occupier cannot be found officers have powers of entry, including force if necessary and we may need to drill out locks on doors to enable us to disarm the alarm. Where any work to silence the alarm is required we will normally charge the occupier for the costs of the work.

How do I complain about an audible intruder alarm? To complain about an audible intruder alarm call 020 8583 5555 during working hours and your complaint will be passed to the Pollution Control Team.  On a Friday/Saturday night between 10pm and 4am call 020 8583 2222 - an operator will pass on your complaint to the Noise Team. Please be patient as the process to have an alarm silenced normally takes a number of hours, particularly as a warrant has to be obtained from a Justice of the Peace.

Burglar Alarms   Bothered by burglar alarm noise? If you are bothered by noise from burglar alarms we can help. Click: Bothered by Noise? for more information. Is your burglar alarm registered? If your house or business is fitted with a burglar alarm you must notify the council and the police. Failure to do this can have serious implications. Your neighbours could be unreasonably disturbed if the alarm goes off and the council may have to enter your property in order to silence it. Your responsibilities are set out in Section 23 of the London Local Authorities Act 1999. In particular you are required to: notify the police of names and addresses of nominated key holders notify the council within 48 hours of the installation of an alarm ensure that the alarm is fitted with a 20 minute cut out device. We also recommend that you ensure the alarm is regularly maintained, and we suggest that it is serviced yearly. Keyholders Nominated keyholders are two people (not the occupier) who hold spare sets of keys to your property, so if necessary they can gain access to your property and reset the alarm. As an alternative you may use a specialist company as a keyholder. You must ensure however, that the company can offer a 24 hour, seven day a week service and that they have a complete set of keys. By doing the above you can fulfill your legal requirements. You can contact the police on 0800 197 771 (from 8am to 8pm) to register your keyholder details for free. You may also register by visiting: www.metkeyholders.org.uk and registering your keyholder details there for a small fee. We advise that you confirm your details anually. Noise Nuisance If your alarm rings and proves to be a nuisance at law, the council will serve you with a Noise Abatement Notice and may have to break into your premises to disconnect the alarm. We would then resecure the premises by changing the locks. The council will charge for the officer time and the money spent in turning the alarm off. This could be as much as £300. Failure to comply with the Abatement Notice is a criminal offence and the council can prosecute you. If found guilty you may have to pay a fine, which could be as much as £5,000 for residential, and £20,000 for commercial premises.

 

Intruder alarms Intruder alarms have become a common feature of many domestic and commercial properties. Alarms, particularly older models, are prone to malfunction and cause  an annoyance to neighbours and sometimes to a considerable area. The Council’s Noise and Nuisance Team have powers to deal with alarms which are causing a nuisance. If you are being disturbed by a faulty alarm you should contact the councils Environmental Health Department to report the occurrence. Once notified, an officer will examine the ways by which the alarm can be silenced. And if necessary, an officer may apply to a magistrate to gain a warrant of entry in order to manually silence the alarm. The Council will charge the person or people responsible for the alarm for all charges incurred. Please remember: Officers may face some difficulty obtaining a warrant outside office hours. Alarms If you have an intruder alarm or are planning to have one fitted to your property, you are legally obliged to appoint two key holders and notify the police of the key holders details. You should also ensure that the alarm system complies with British Standard 4737 and is fitted with a 20 minute cut-out. The alarm should be regularly maintained by a competent company. Note: If you comply with the above requirements you may be eligible for a discount on your house insurance   Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames For further information contact the Noise and Nuisance Service. Noise nuisances     If you experience problems of noise nuisance, we will offer advice and investigate your complaint. If you are a council tenant, troubled by noisy neighbours, your Estate Manager will be able to help with your complaint. For more information, please contact Environmental Health.        Phone:  020 8547 5546        or  5536      Noise and Pollution Control Noise Party down the street keeping you awake at night? Noisy neighbours making your life a misery? Then call our noise control service - we're here to keep the volume down. What is noise nuisance? Lambeth Council's noise service aims to tackle unreasonable noise disturbance and reduce its impact on the quality of people's lives in the borough. We investigate complaints about: loud music, TV or radio persistent shouting, banging or other domestic noise parties or other entertainment building and DIY work at unreasonable times of the day constant dog barking car and burglar alarms What you can do? We provide a rapid response service at night, operating: Sunday to Thursday evenings: 10pm - 3am Friday and Saturday evenings: 10pm - 5am. To contact the night service call 020 7926 5999 You can also report noise disturbances during normal office hours, Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm, telephone 020 7926 6153 What we can do? When you call our night-time telephone hotline (020 7926 5999), the operator will take the details of your complaint and pass them on to Noise Service officers, who will call you back and make arrangements to visit your home as soon as possible. They will need to assess the level of the noise from inside your home. If it's loud enough to be considered a statutory nuisance, the Noise Service officers will visit the person making the noise and ask them to turn it down or turn it off altogether. The person making the noise will not be told who has made a complaint about them. If the noise does not stop or it is not reduced, the officer can serve a legal notice (an abatement notice) on the person responsible for the noise telling them that they are committing an offence if they ignore the notice. If this doesn't work, the person responsible for the noise may be taken to court and fined up to £5,000. For noise problems that persist, the council can also apply for a Warrant of Entry which allows officers to seize noise-making equipment used by the perpetrator. We take noise nuisance seriously It's our policy to prosecute people who do not co-operate in reducing noise when asked. People who are taken to court for committing serious noise nuisance may get a criminal record be fined up to £5,000 be evicted from their home if they are a council tenant. Pollution The service also investigates complaints about other forms of pollution such as smoke from bonfires, smells & fumes from car paint spraying. The service authorises prescribed industrial processes under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, provides advice and support to other Council services, residents and businesses and investigates complaints. The Council has statutory responsibilities in relation to contaminated land and has a strategy to meet mandatory commitments. We have published our policies on enforcement and are happy to send you a copy on request. Our service standards: We aim to provide you with the best service possible in accordance with our service standards: We aim to respond to complaints about burglar and car alarms on the same day as the complaint We aim to respond to complaints about nighttime noise nuisance within one and a half hours Complaints requiring ongoing investigation will be allocated to an enforcement officer who will contact you within seven days Your complaint will be dealt with confidentially and we will not disclose your identity or give out your personal details to the person making the noise You can contact us by phone, on 020 7926 6153 (day time /office hours) or 020 7926 5999 (night time), email: noise@lambeth.gov.uk or letter for more information, or visit our offices at 2 Herne Hill Road, London SE24 0AU.      Fax:  020 8547 5568 Out-of-hours service (11.30pm Saturday night until 4.30am Sunday morning)        Phone:  020 8547 5800 Environmental Health Web Pages:

London Borough of Merton

LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM

pollution
	Noise Pollution Noise can be defined as unwanted sound, that is any sound that causes annoyance or disturbance. Noise is one of the biggest sources of complaints about environmental pollution as it can affect the quality of life for people in their own homes. Noise pollution can be difficult to deal with as what is 'noise' is highly subjective and the time that it occurs may be as important as its loudness.   Noise Pollution Channel Tunnel Rail Link A13 Improvements Docklands Light Railway Extension     Noise Pollution   If you are affected by noise you can first talk to the person or company responsible. You may find that the problem can be resolved amicably. Mediation, where an independent third party helps to produce agreement, is another possible way to resolve problems. Newham Conflict and Change Project undertakes such mediation and can be contacted at Christopher House, Streatfield Road, London, E6. Telephone 020 8552 2050. You can also obtain details about the location of services in your area from Mediation UK on 0117 9046661. Where noise nuisance is occurring and informal action is not possible or fails, you can ask the council to investigate. Examples of possible nuisance include loud music late at night from a neighbour's house, a persistently ringing burglar alarm or a construction site where works are occurring at unreasonable times. The Initial Response Team within the Environmental Health Service aims to investigate and action such complaints promptly and can be contacted by telephoning 0208 430 2000 extensions 25249 or 25262 or by writing to Environmental Health Service, Alice Billings House, 2-12 West Ham Lane, Stratford, London, E15 4SF. The Pollution Control Unit undertakes specialist noise investigations and actions including: Working with the Planning Service to ensure that new developments do not cause nuisance and that new developments are adequately protected from noise. This is achieved by advising upon necessary planning conditions to restrict noise during construction and provide suitable noise controls for any plant or operation. In the case of noise sensitive buildings conditions may mean that noise surveys are required and that noise insulation is provided to ensure that internal noise levels are suitable for the use. Monitor noise from road, rail and aircraft and the investigation of complaints. Developing noise mapping for the borough. Controlling noise from major construction projects - see links above. Provide advice about general environmental noise, sound insulation and noise from London City Airport. Liaise with relevant government departments.

Noise Advice Advice and help for people dealing with unwanted disturbances in Southwark. Southwark Council's Noise Team runs a 24-hour, 7-day week service dealing with the control of noise, vibration, dust and other nuisances including: Neighbours (loud music, parties and DIY work) Barking dogs Prolonged ringing of burglar and car alarms Entertainment venues, including pubs and tenants' halls Commercial / industrial premises and activities Construction sites Roadworks Stationary vehicles and equipment in the street Tackling a noise problem   Step 1. Try to raise the problem with the person causing the noise, but only speak to them if you are feeling calm. Don't approach the person making the noise if you think your safety might be at risk. If you are a council tenant your housing officer will provide further advice and support.    Step 2. If the noise continues, phone the noise team on 020 7525-5777 while the noise is actually happening. A Noise Officer will usually either phone you back or visit you within 45 minutes. We'll also try to visit the place or person making the noise and try to reduce the noise. All complaints are treated confidentially. If you're concerned about the person making the noise knowing that you've complained, let us know and we'll handle the matter as sensitively as possible.    Step 3. If the noise occurs frequently, it may be useful for you to keep a diary recording details of when the noise occurs and what the noise is. This can be used as evidence if you act as a witness in court. We suggest you click here to download the Noise Diary.         Penalties for noise makers A legal Notice can be served on the person who is responsible for making the noise (normally the owner or occupier of the premises). If the terms of the Notice are broken, legal action can be taken and the courts can fine the noise maker up to £5000. Noise offenders may have all their sound making equipment seized (including TV's, CD's, tapes & loudspeakers). The courts have the power to keep all the equipment permanently. If a Southwark Council tenant is served with a Noise Abatement Notice, the Neighbourhood Housing Office will be advised. This could lead to the tenant being evicted for breach of tenancy agreement. Our Commitments to You We are committed to delivering an excellent service to the community in Southwark. When you contact us you can expect the following:   If you call us by phone we will respond in 76% of noise cases either by phone or visiting* you within 45 minutes of receiving your complaint (*if the disturbance is still going on). We will respond to 100% of noise complaint cases within three hours and send you written confirmation of our action. We will send a written reply to a letter or fax/e-mail enquiry within 10 working days of receiving it We will provide advice on the option open to you if we cannot take action for you. We will deal with you in a professional and polite way. You can help us deal with your problem quickly and efficiently by: contacting the Noise Team when the disturbance is happening & allowing us into your home so officers can assess the situation. letting us know if the disturbance stops before we have visited you giving us the evidence we need to take action and acting as a witness in court if necessary. telling us about any change in your circumstances filling in feedback forms so we can improve our service.   How to contact us If you want to make a complaint or need more information, contact us using the details below. If the disturbance is going on now, call our 24-hour hotline. Tel: 020 7525 5777 (24 hours) Fax: 020 7525 3077 Email: noise@southwark.gov.uk Address: Noise Team Environment & Leisure The Chaplin Centre Thurlow Street London SE17 2DG   Alarm Registration Who needs to register? If you have an audible alarm of any type (e.g. intruder alarm, fire alarm, smoke alarm etc.) on your property, you must register details of the key holders to your property. This is a legal requirement under the London Local Authority Act 1991.   Who should key holder details be registered with? The police. You can do this by calling 0800 197 7711 (lines are open 8.00am to 8.00pm) or by logging on to www.metkeyholders.org.uk.   What do the keyholders have to do? Key holders must be aware of their responsibilities and be prepared to be a designated contact. Obviously they should make sure your keys are kept in a safe place and can be found easily if needed.   What is the point of registering? If there is an incident at your property, the emergency services may need to access it. If they can contact the key holder, they can access it without having to force entry to the property. If your alarm rings continuously and you are not around to switch it off, the Southwark Noise Team can contact the key holder to switch it off. If the Noise Team cannot contact anyone, they are legally obliged to force entry and switch the alarm off. The owner of the property would be charged for the cost of calling out a locksmith and any other charges incurred.   Contact us For more information about this or other noise related issues, please contact the Southwark Noise Team. Tel: 020 7525 2000 Fax: 020 7525 3077 Email: noise@southwark.gov.uk Address: Southwark Noise Team, The Chaplin Centre, Thurlow Street, London SE17 2DG

How much noise is too much noise? Mediation Noisy Intruder Alarms What Community Protection Can Do Private Legal Action Noisy Animals   You have the right to peace and quiet. Your neighbour must not make excessive noise that causes you a nuisance. But we live in Waltham Forest, a densely populated area and absolute silence is not possible. We have thin walls, people above and below us, roads outside and factories/shops next door. People, their pets and their cars make noise, and there are alarms all over the place. You can't expect silence. On the other hand you should not have to suffer excessive, unnecessary and preventable noise. How much noise is too much noise? Pleasant music to one person is noise to another. There are no clear definitions of what is unacceptable. Each case has to be considered on its merits. The following are examples when the Community Protection Service can take action: Music that is so loud that it prevents you or your family sleeping or relaxing. Building sites or factories that start making a noise early in the morning or continue making a noise until late at night. Intruder and car alarms which repeatedly sound for long periods and are not switched off. Noisy D.I.Y. work late at night or early in the morning. Persistent and prolonged noise from animals. The Community Protection Service cannot normally take action for domestic noises other than loud music. This would include for example: Raised voices, children running about, footsteps and banging. These types of problems may be dealt with through mediation. Mediation    What you can do Step 1 Discuss the problem with the person or organization making the noise. Often they can stop or reduce the impact of the noise. Step 2 Keep an accurate record. Talk to other neighbours and make sure they keep records too. Step 3 If the noise continues, write to the person, or organization. Explain the problem clearly. Keep a copy of the letter and note the date when it was sent. Step 4 If you are a Council Tenant you should initially contact Housing Services, otherwise contact the Community Protection Service, 154 Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow E17 6NW Tel: 020 8496 3000. Office Hours: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Monday - Friday We will tell you what we will do about your noise problems within seven days. In case of difficulty, ask for the Noise Team Leader. You may also contact the duty officer (noise) up to midnight from Sunday - Thursday, on 020 8496 3000. Weekend noise service 6 pm - 2 am Fridays and Saturdays - when this service is operating please call 020 8496 3000. Step 5 You can initiate your own legal action: (see under section "private legal action"). This would include situations when the Community Protection Service has been unable to assist you. The action we take Step 6 a) Discuss the problem with you b) Contact the person responsible for the noise c) Try to settle the complaint informally Step 7 If the noise continues the out of hours callout service can be made available to witness the noise. If there is enough evidence to satisfy an Community Protection Officer the person causing the noise may then be served with an Abatement Notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The noise is normally served within seven days of the evidence being established. Step 8 If the noise continues after the Notice is served, action can be taken in the Magistrate's Court. It may take up to six months after the Notice is contravened before a court hearing takes place. Courts can impose a fine of up to £5,000 if the noise comes from residential premises and up to £20,000 in the case of commercial premises. You will not be involved in any costs, but you may be asked to: Give a formal statement Go to Court as a witness and show your written record of the noisy incidents. Step 9 If there is evidence that the noise continues other legal action can be considered including the removal of the noise making equipment from the perpetrator's premises. Noisy Intruder Alarms "Burglar" alarms work by making a noise when intruders enter or try to enter premises. Unfortunately they sometimes go off by accident. No one minds them going off, provided they are turned off quickly. The Council has adopted the provisions of the London Local Authorities Act 1992 relating to audible intruder alarms. Intruder alarm systems must be fitted with a 20 minute cut-out device to prevent prolonged ringing. The owner or occupier must notify the Metropolitan Police and the Local Authority within 48 hours of installation, in writing, of 2 nominated key holders (other than the occupier or company which holds the keys) What Community Protection can do What to do if the alarm won't stop It is an offence (fine up to £2,000) to permit an alarm system to ring for more than 20 minutes. We can apply to a local magistrate for a warrant to enter premises and deactivate an alarm which has been ringing for a long time. This would normally be carried out the next working day. If you suffer from prolonged ringing of an intruder alarm contact: Environmental Services Community Protection 154 Blackhorse Road Walthamstow E17 6NW Tel: 020 8496 3000 Car Alarms The Council can deactivate a car alarm that has been ringing for more than an hour. This would normally be carried out the next working day.

WANDSWORTH COUNCIL