Hamilton police report ‘significant reduction’ in false alarm calls

Hamilton police have seen a considerable reduction" in the number of false alarm calls in the city since the implementation of its verified-response system.

However, nine out of every 10 alarm calls in the city were still false last year, according to a report set to be presented at the police services board meeting on Thursday.

The latest update on alarm calls in the city comes more than three years after police moved to a system that requires alarm companies to confirm whether something is actually wrong before notifying police.

Back in 2018, police responded to more than 3,100 alarm calls, with 95 per cent of them being false. Compare that to 2022, where police responded to just over 1,000 alarm calls, with 90 per cent of them being false, according to the report.

The report also noted that amid the pandemic, alarm calls dropped off significantly due to business closures and people staying home amid restrictions. But, despite police responding to fewer alarm calls, 91 per cent of those in 2020 and 2021 were still false.

Alarm program administrator, Karen Derry, wrote in the report that the significant reduction" in alarm calls requiring a police response has allowed officers to be effectively deployed to other calls for service."

Derry added that the increase in electronic and video monitoring technologies has improved efficiencies and reliability" when it comes to public safety.

While the improved allocation of police resources is cited as one benefit of the system, the cost of false alarms has decreased year-over-year, according to the report.

Back in 2018, the response to false alarms cost the force more than $563,000, while last year that cost had dropped to nearly $164,000.

As part of the system, police issue fines for false alarms to the companies that monitor the systems, with each false alarm costing around $179. A partial fine of close to $85 can be charged for calls that are cancelled while police are en-route.

Last year, police issued more than $175,000 worth of fines for false alarms, according to the report.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com