Meeting the ACPO Challenge

BT is all about communications, which is why RedCARE is much more than the most secure alarm-signalling network in the world. It is a complete service providing the security industry with an unrivalled range of information and other support services – working on what we like to call a partnership basis.

We anticipated that the key changes introduced with the new ACPO Policy on police response to alarms in January this year would require interpretation and understanding – hence our decision to team up with Security Installer magazine to launch the very successful "ACPO Unscrambled" series of forums held throughout the country.

What came across loud and clear is that far from taking a negative view, as had been predicted by some in the industry, many installers were looking to the opportunities presented by the new policy. This view is perhaps best summed up by Andy Rees from Absolute Security who told our forum in Windsor that by offering existing and prospective customers an informed, professional and quality service he would look forward to an increase in revenue. "Then," he declared, "we can look forward to an increased value for professionally-fitted systems. The new policy is an opportunity, not a threat."

At Newcastle, installer Anthony King went as far as to predict: "This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the standards of our industry." Installers, he said, would now be able to make good commercial decisions and there was a huge potential to increase sales.

Along with Security Installer we were honoured with the prestigious BSIA Chairman's Award for the contribution that our forums made "towards improving standards with the security industry". But we are certainly not going to rest on our laurels. We have now entered Phase 2 in implementation of the new policy, and we recognise this phase as being as much, if not more, of a challenge than we faced at the beginning of this year.

We continue to rise to this challenge in a number of ways. This supplement aims to promote and encourage as clear and wide an understanding of all the issues raised by the new policy, not least the confirmed activation requirement for new systems, effective from October 1.

It is this requirement that presents such a great opportunity for installers to raise standards and enhance their business. Because with our dual-signalling system, RedCARE GSM, we have by far the best system for providing a confirmed activation. Indeed, there has never been a better time to recommend RedCARE GSM.

RedCARE GSM provides the highest level of security by offering a back-up link to the alarm receiving centre (ARC) using BT Cellnet's extensive cellular network.

Critically, this is the only signalling system that provides a confirmed activation if both signalling paths are lost, regardless of which is lost first. This is only possible because RedCARE GSM continuously monitors both the landline and the radio path to ensure that the ARC is always aware of the status of each one. The fact that the ARC knows the radio path is working makes RedCARE GSM unique (See graphic).

The Sheffield Co-op agrees
The Sheffield Co-operative Society is upgrading all its sites in the greater Sheffield area to RedCARE GSM because "we want the best and we know it will help minimise our security costs," says Security Manager Alan Sewell.

This is the only signalling system that provides a confirmed activation if both signalling paths are lost, regardless of which is lost first.

"RedCARE GSM is being rolled out through every one of our sites, from groceries and garages to warehouses and even funeral parlours," declares Alan, who is so confident about his security that he has stopped taking out insurance cover. "We started with RedCARE some five years ago, and the cost of the few robberies we have had is now less than it would cost us in insurance premiums", he points out.

The Sheffield Co-op employs a total of around 1,000 people and always pays particular attention to ensuring police response at outlets in the more remote parts of the Sheffield area. "RedCARE GSM," says Alan, " gives us the comfort of knowing that our security not only meets the confirmed activation requirement, but also that we will get a rapid police response in the event of an attack on any one of our premises."

In a class of its own
A recent BRE report* which specifically focused on EN50131-1 referring to the transmission of an alarm between the protected premises and the Alarm Receiving Centre, showed that: For systems where two signalling paths are deployed and the primary path is not functioning, of the systems considered, RedCARE GSM was the only system that, in its standard form, would comply with the EN standards, as both paths are fully monitored. RedCARE GSM was the only signalling system considered that in its standard form would be compliant with EN 50131-1 table 6, when the primary path is not functioning.

(* BRE Report April 2001 - preliminary result of likely compliance)

RedCARE GSM is the best for confirmed activations because:

• Uses SMS Signalling for wider service availability
• Uses Ultra High Frequency for better building penetration
• Failsafe against radio jamming
• Ensures a signal reaches the ARC in the event of a line attack
• The only continuously monitored failsafe system on the market, offering more information and added reassurance to customers
• Has dedicated SMS switching centres, meaning the message is delivered in under 8 secs
• Available as an enhancement to an existing RedCARE-protected alarm system or as part of a new installation - subject to a site survey to confirm GSM signal strength
• As with the fixed line, there are no call charges on the Cellnet radio links
• Conforms to the highest level of EN standards

New price - new everything!

New Price: No wonder we have put RedCARE GSM at the forefront in meeting the new challenges. In July we reduced the price by no less than 40per cent, reinforcing the attraction of this superb product.

New Product Enhancement: We have just introduced a further product enhancement – the Versus GSMSTU. This makes it easier and quicker to install. We have also increased the alarm channels to assist in the design of multiple-zone systems for confirmed alarms.

New Services: We have also just introduced several new services:

RedCARE GSM Signal Strength Tester

RedCARE GSM on-line and regional training

Revised ACPO web site

New incentive scheme: Paint the Town Red Combine these with the FREE marketing support we provide, and you will get some idea of the tremendous confidence we have that installers can make a big increase in their sales by recommending RedCARE GSM. Cardiff based installation company SGD are enjoying a boost to their business thanks to a new telesales campaign courtesy of BT RedCARE. SGD Director Lisa Duprey explained: "The results from the first telesales campaign in 1999 were absolutely fantastic. None of us believed that the offer could work a second time so soon after the first. How wrong we were! It's been brilliant with a 17 per cent success rate".

Training sessions
You can obtain a GSM signal tester by coming along to one of our training sessions. Or by taking up our free offer in the new Paint the Town Red incentive scheme.

For those who can't get to face-to-face training sessions, try our new on-line version. But that's not all we are doing by a long way. We have refreshed the ACPO section of our website, which is still the place to go for up-to-date and accurate information. Many views in this supplement will be reflected on the revised site and we will continue with our special instant updates on what the regional police forces are doing. And we are introducing an exciting range of incentives for installers under the Paint the Town Red scheme – even more reason for recommending RedCARE.

So how is everyone coping with the policy so far?
It's early days so there may still be some confusion, particularly about existing systems installed before the new policy was implemented. The simple answer to this is that whilst all new systems will be required to send confirmed activations from October 1, in order to secure police response, existing systems installed prior to that date will not need to be adapted to comply, unless they have been subject to police response withdrawal.

And the 350,000 customers that already rely on RedCARE can rest assured that they have the most secure signalling system to meet the new requirements, not least because it is the only one that continuously monitors the signalling path every second of every day, 365 days a year. You KNOW RedCARE is working.

In the final analysis, it is the installer who is at the sharp end of the changes arising from the new policy. We are encouraged by the way they are communicating with their customers and educating them about the new requirements.