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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Written Answers. - Withdrawal of Garda Cover.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

70 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if she will have arrangements made to return Garda cover to a company (details supplied) in Dublin 11 which has been withdrawn due to alleged false alarms; this company are in danger of their insurance cover being withdrawn and this could seriously influence the future viability of the plant which has foreign principals; and in view of the fact that the area already has high unemployment, she will redress this problem so as to protect existing jobs and defeat the vandals.

I understand that Garda response to automatic alarm activations from the premises referred to in the question was discontinued on 7 July 1993, in accordance with the terms of the Garda Policy on Intruder Alarms. The policy was introduced with effect from 1 September 1992, with the aim of reducing the level of false alarm activations by getting the owners of premises to take the remedial action necessary to improve the operation of their alarm systems. In recent years false alarms had accounted for approximately 94 per cent of all alarm activations notified to the Garda. This involved very substantial waste of Garda time and resources and diverted those resources from geunine alarm calls and other calls for Garda assistance.

Prior to 7 July 1993, I understand that the company in question had 27 false alarms recorded against them, far in excess of the level permissible under the Garda policy. As a result the company were informed by the Garda that response to alarm activations would be discontinued as from 7 July 1993, and would not be resumed until there had been a period free from false alarms which is not normally less than three months.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that from 7 July 1993, to date, there have been a further 23 false alarms, which again is far in excess of the level permissible and does not justify a resumption of service to the company.

I understand that the company mentioned have spent a considerable amount of money and effort in trying to eliminate the problems. Nonetheless, the figures show that they still have a major problem with their alarm system, which needs to be addressed urgently. The Garda, therefore, are not in a position to resume the service at this time but they will co-operate fully where possible with the company in correcting their problems. I understand that arrangements have been made for the local Crime Prevention Officer to call on the proprietor and try to advise him on how his alarm system can be used to his advantage, with a view to resuming Garda response at the earliest possible date within the terms of the Garda Policy on Intruder Alarms.

It is in the interest not only of the Garda but also of the company that this alarm system functions properly and that the level of false calls coming from it is not such as to make it ineffective as a crime prevention instrument.
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