False Alarms are Costly Time-Wasters

In the News: 

“Alberta RCMP are following a new alarm policy after just under 15,500 false alarms took up an estimated 8,000 human resource hours in 2017. The new policy, which came into effect on July 13, states that police will verify alarms before responding and will not respond to alarms that are only triggered once.
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is asking city council to raise the fee when officers respond to false alarms. Officials believe by increasing the fee, it would serve as a further deterrent for security alarm customers from having false alarms and allow officers to spend more time on other duties. On average, officers have responded to 2,100 false alarms each year over the past five years.” – Global News

False Alarms and Their Impact

Despite decades of warnings and changes to bylaws to introduce fines, local police forces are still burdened with thousands of false alarms every year.

For businesses using commercial security systems, false alarms are more than just inconvenient—they waste police resources and often result in fines. Across Canada, municipalities have implemented programs to offset the costs of false dispatches. These fines vary from city to city but can add up quickly, especially for repeat offenders or alarms that take longer to investigate.

“Last year, RCMP in Alberta received just under 15,500 false alarm calls which equates to nearly 8,000 human resource hours that could have been dedicated to more urgent calls for service.”

Vancouver’s False Alarm Reduction Program

The Vancouver Police Department has developed a program to help reduce false alarms. Under the City of Vancouver Security Alarm System Bylaw #7111, a false alarm is defined as:

“An alarm incident where there is no evidence that an unauthorized entry or unlawful act has been attempted or made into, on, or respecting a building, structure, or premises and includes, but is not limited to:

• The activation of a security alarm system during its testing;
• A security alarm system activated by mechanical failure, malfunction, or faulty equipment;
• A security alarm system activated by atmospheric conditions, vibrations, or power failure;
• A security alarm system activated by user error.”

A “false dispatch” is further defined as:

“Notification of an alarm incident to the law enforcement agency and there is no evidence of a criminal offence or attempted criminal offence.”

For businesses relying on commercial security systems, these definitions highlight the importance of investing in solutions that reduce user error and technical malfunctions.

How Verified Alarms Solve the Problem

With proper technology - like Sonitrol Verified Commercial Security Systems - false alarms can be drastically reduced. Many false alarms are caused by human error, improper installation, or faulty equipment.

At Sonitrol Western Canada, every alarm is verified through audio and video before emergency services are contacted. If the alarm is false, the system is reset without bothering you or the authorities. If a crime is in progress, our operators discreetly alert the police and provide live updates, helping law enforcement respond quickly and apprehend suspects.

Because of this verification:

• Sonitrol has achieved over 182,704 apprehensions and counting
• We maintain a false alarm rate of less than 3%, the lowest in the industry
• Police respond in an average of 3.5 minutes to verified alarms (compared to 45 minutes or longer for non-verified alarms)

Why Businesses Benefit from Verified Security

False alarms waste money and put strain on police resources. By choosing verified commercial security systems, businesses can:

• Avoid costly fines
• Improve relationships with local law enforcement
• Protect staff, customers, and assets more effectively
• Gain peace of mind with accurate, fast police response

Protect Your Business with Sonitrol

At Sonitrol Western Canada, we strongly advocate the elimination of false alarms. Verified alarms not only protect your business but also benefit the entire community by allowing law enforcement to focus on true emergencies.

Contact us today to learn more about our verified commercial security systems or request a free security audit through the link below.