Most business owners dread the call that says the alarm is going off at 3am. A key holding and alarm response service takes that call off your hands.
What key holding means
A key holding company stores a set of keys to your premises securely, records who has access to them and releases them only to authorised officers. Good practice is to code the keys so that the address cannot be identified from the key itself.
What happens when an alarm activates
- The alarm company or monitoring centre contacts the response provider.
- The control room dispatches the nearest available officer.
- The officer checks the outside of the premises first, looking for signs of forced entry.
- If it is safe to do so, they enter, check the inside and find the cause.
- They reset or secure the premises, and escalate to you, your nominated contacts or the police where there is evidence of a crime.
- A report is sent to you so you have a record for your insurer.
Getting the most from the service
- Keep your keyholder list and contact numbers up to date.
- Tell your response provider about changes such as new alarm codes, new tenants or building works.
- Fix recurring false alarms with your alarm installer. Repeated false alarms waste money and can affect police response.
- Agree in advance who should be called first and who can authorise repairs after a break-in.
Police response to alarms varies by area and is generally given only where there is evidence of a crime. If you see a crime in progress, always call 999.
How Secure FM helps
Secure FM provides secure key storage and 24/7 dispatch from our control room to alarm activations, welfare checks and site inspections. Our average alarm response time is 60 minutes, and every attendance produces a verified incident report. Our 24/7 helpline is 0330 088 0991.