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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Police won't investigate street alarms

14 replies

snackmonster · 16/02/2023 04:42

Possible fire alarm/burglar alarm going off on my street, maybe a door or two up from me, for about 30 mins, it's 4am... went outside after about 10 mins but I couldn't see anything going on, no smoke etc. Had a little Google and most websites say report to the police as it could be a carbon monoxide alarm, etc, something dangerous anyway. I called the non-emergency police line and they said they don't come to investigate alarms, millions of alarms go off every day and it's none of their business. I was surprised to be honest, not least because of how blunt they were. Would it not be better to at least say thank you and log it? Or are they saying this to people who call up to prevent us from calling about alarms in the future? I recognise they are understaffed and an alarm isn't a priority, but surely we should be encouraging people to look out for their community and reporting anything concerning where someone's life could potentially be at risk. I'm not bothered about the noise, I was awake anyway, but I just wanted to make sure my neighbours were okay. AIBU or should they have responded differently?

OP posts:
TibetanTerrah · 16/02/2023 04:54

but I just wanted to make sure my neighbours were okay.

I mean, you can still do that yourself if you're concerned? I wouldn't bother though. The police are right, alarms go off all the time and unless there's an actual reason to be concerned i.e. you see smoke they can't come out to every single alarm going off.

steff13 · 16/02/2023 04:56

If it's a burglar alarm it should be connected to some sort of a service that should come out and check. If it's a smoke alarm you could knock on the door and make sure that the people are okay but if you can hear the alarm then certainly if they're home they can also hear it.

Original poster
snackmonster · 16/02/2023 04:59

I did go and see but couldn't work out where it was coming from! I'm not quite sure how I could help or check on them though? Couldn't it be a concern if it was something like carbon monoxide? That wouldn't cause any smoke... this is the first time I've reported an alarm before because it sounds much more like a fire alarm inside a home than a car alarm or burglar alarm which are more distinctive. I'm just surprised but I'm sure you're right.

OP posts:
LightBuzzyear27 · 16/02/2023 05:00

No they are correct, alarms go off accidentally all the time, if they went out to every single one, they'd have no time to attend actual crimes. If you'd seen someone running from the house or the doors were adjar or something then yes they would attend. But the alarm in itself, no. And tbf, most people calling about alarms going off are calling as a noise complaint rather than out of concern anyway.

Original poster
snackmonster · 16/02/2023 05:01

You'd think so but I know so many people who can sleep through a fire alarm! I've gone outside but there's so many flats in the vicinity, I can't work out which one it could be.

OP posts:
Redglitter · 16/02/2023 05:03

Would it not be better to at least say thank you and log it

The famous MN Police log 🤦🏻‍♀️

Theyre right though there's so many alarms go off every day & unless there's more to it which would justify attendance then they no longer get checked. If you think it's a carbon monoxide one the Fire Service would be a better option.

Original poster
snackmonster · 16/02/2023 05:09

If the fire service are a better option then would the police line not recommend that? 😅 I don't know what it is, I'm just concerned that's all and thought I was doing the right thing. Was lying in bed imagining people dying because I thought that it wasn't worth reporting! Oh well, I only took up about 30 seconds of their time with my call, hopefully my mistake is forgivable.

OP posts:
Redglitter · 16/02/2023 06:07

Not necessarily. Just depends how helpful the call taker is 😊

But seriously carbon monoxide would be Fire Service remit not the Police

PieonaBarm · 16/02/2023 06:10

If you can't work out where it's coming from, what chance does a Police Officer have?

MrsBunnyEars · 16/02/2023 06:15

I’ve never known a carbon monoxide alarm be audible on the street like a fire alarm, they’re usually little beeps to let the people inside the house know.

Felix125 · 16/02/2023 09:27

As a police officer - there is no problem reporting it at all - and the call taker should not have been blunt with you

Its correct that we don't routinely attend house alarms sounding unless there is something else to go with it (seeing people running off, hearing smashing of glass or loud bangs etc etc)

But...... you will not know what is going on in the area at the time. It could be that the police are actively perusing a burglar trying houses in the area as you phone, or there might be a unit in the area at the time who can quickly divert from what ever they are doing to check it out. Your call might be the missing piece of the jigsaw we need.

If is not a regular occurrence i would say call - and don't be put off by the call taker being blunt.

Original poster
snackmonster · 20/02/2023 06:58

Thank you, that's good to know!

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 20/02/2023 07:03

When I was a student there was a house alarm going off solidly for 2 days I thought I was going to lose my mind. Police didn't give a shit when called. I got someone else to call and say they thought they saw someone climbing over the back fence. That got them out and it stopped shortly after.

fuckupthenight · 20/02/2023 07:06

at least say thank you and log it

😆

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