ECHO stands as a pivotal alarm transfer service, enhancing the efficiency of police responses to emergency alarms. Its fully automated electronic alarm transmission system bridges alarm receiving centres (ARCs) with police control rooms, ensuring that alarm signals are swiftly relayed upon confirmation and verification.
Privately funded and established in 2019/20, the ECHO platform extends its services to all blue light entities prepared to receive transmissions. The adoption of ECHO has surged since 2021 and is projected to grow further as more police forces show interest, aligning with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) SSG standards for Intruder and Hold Up alarms. In scenarios where time is of the essence, ECHO is instrumental in expediting the response times of blue light services to emergency alarms.
Alarm systems that are subject to police response, set up by certified installers and supervised by sanctioned ARCs or monitoring centres, are integrated with ECHO as soon as the corresponding police forces are equipped. The Metropolitan Police and Essex Police were among the first to adopt ECHO connectivity in 2021. To locate a certified installer, utilize the company finders provided by the UKAS-accredited certification bodies, NSI and SSAIB.
ECHO enhances the rapidity of police interventions for Intruder and Hold-up alarms from ECHO-integrated premises. In urgent situations where time is critical, property owners and residents can rely on a swifter reaction from ECHO-affiliated emergency services, ensuring more efficient action and stronger deterrence.
ECHO establishes a direct link for Intruder and Hold-up Alarms to police response units.
Looking ahead, the potential exists to leverage ECHO technology to refine fire alarm systems, minimizing false alarms in vital facilities like care homes and hospitals. This advancement aims to bolster safety for individuals and assets, while also heightening the efficiency of emergency service deployments.
For the latest information on areas serviced by ECHO-connected police forces, visit the ECHO-connected section on the Home page.
Consult with us to determine the availability of ECHO-connected services in your region.
ECHO enhances the alarm monitoring and signaling process, providing comprehensive benefits to Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) and their partners in emergency services, fostering improved risk management and more efficient, sustainable operations.
Rapid Alarm Signaling to the Police
The ECHO hub modernizes alarm signaling to law enforcement, replacing the conventional voice call approach with a streamlined electronic system. This innovation can reduce police response times by 1 to 4 minutes.
Precise Incident Reporting
Trained call handlers are adept, yet under duress, errors can occur. ECHO mitigates the risk of human mistakes, such as miscommunication of addresses or incident details, ensuring precise and automated information transfer.
Instantaneous Event Confirmation
When ARCs signal alarm activations, the police provide an incident number for record-keeping and potential follow-ups. ECHO expedites this exchange, providing instant access to critical information, thus saving time and allowing personnel to prioritize other urgent tasks.
Enhanced Keyholder Coordination
Timely communication of keyholder information and their estimated time of arrival is crucial for first responders. ECHO is set to integrate these details into the alarm transmission process, improving coordination.
Streamlined Feedback Mechanism
Feedback on the nature of the alarm—genuine or false—is invaluable for ARCs to enhance service quality. ECHO aims to simplify the feedback loop, enabling ARCs to work with maintenance providers and property owners to minimize false alarms and optimize alarm effectiveness.
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