A video alarm receiving centre is a monitoring station facility staffed with dedicated operators 24/7/365, prepared to respond to movement, glass break, or lost door contact alarms from the monitored businesses.
The “Video Alarm Receiving Centre” is named for its role in efficiently processing incoming video feeds and alarm signals from security breaches.
The services of a video alarm receiving center is the main difference between unmonitored and monitored security systems.
The remote operators at the alarm receiving centre access the CCTV camera live video feeds when an alarm is triggered to confirm the threat and act in accordance to the situation.
The main purpose of alarms is prompt response, right? Alarm-receiving centers accelerate these responses by verifying the video feeds and promptly relaying the confirmed threat to emergency authorities.
When emergency responders receive a confirmed case of a “crime in progress” or “fire” by the video alarm receiving centre, they prioritize it and promptly dispatch the necessary services.
If you want to know more about video alarm receiving centers and how they work, this blog is for you.
Why do you require a verified emergency response from video alarm receiving centres?
There has been a significant surge in the installation of CCTV surveillance cameras across Canada.
A report on the number of CCTV cameras in the world’s top 150 most surveilled cities confirms that Montreal alone boasts 4,420 surveillance cameras, while Toronto has 19,942 cameras.
With so many cameras you can imagine the number of alarms triggered accidentally and due to security breaches. Authorities are bombarded with emergency calls.
The Ottawa Fire Department, for instance, grapples with over 10,000 false alarms each year. A report from the York Region Police indicated 99.5 percent of the 5,000 alarms they received in a year were false.
Verified response protocol:
Consequently, a verified response protocol has been implemented, making it mandatory for authorities to respond to alarms.
It means authorities will respond to the alarms if:
- Two-way voice communication verifies an ongoing security breach.
- Video confirmation substantiates a security breach.
- Communication with key holders confirms the unauthorized activation of the alarm system or a security breach.
The above three requirements are fulfilled by the video alarm receiving centre so you can be sure that you get a swift response from authorities to save you from financial losses incurred by thefts and fire.
Let us show you how.
How does a video alarm receiving centre work?
Video Alarm Receiving Centers, also known as Remote Video Monitoring Centers, are staffed by trained operators who monitor real-time video feeds to swiftly respond to security incidents, including intrusions, fires, and other breaches.
The alarm receiving centre, abbreviated as ARC, is a third party that verifies the alarms and determines whether they are legitimate or accidental!
1. Triggering of alarms:
Motion detectors or door contacts act as the first line of defense. When a sensor is tripped, a secure, off-site monitoring center is instantly notified.
Trained professionals there become your eyes and ears, able to activate specific cameras based on the triggered sensor’s location. This allows them to see exactly what’s going on – a false alarm or a real threat?
2. Verification of alarms:
Upon receiving an alarm, operators verify the authenticity of the alert. This is done by examining surveillance camera footage.
Operators are trained to quickly and accurately assess the nature of the alarm. They access live video feeds to look at activities within the monitored area, enabling them to distinguish between false alarms and actual security breaches.
Alarm verification helps ensure that response efforts are directed towards real threats. So you can minimize unnecessary disruptions and false alarms.
3. Audio interventions:
Once an intrusion is confirmed, operators follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by possibly initiating audio interventions. Often, these verbal warnings suffice to deter criminals.
However, if these warnings fail, operators then adhere to the established SOPs to either coordinate promptly with the relevant personnel or, when necessary, contact local law enforcement agencies.
Effective communication is key, and operators provide clear and concise information about the nature of the intrusion, the location, and any other relevant details to facilitate a rapid and appropriate response.
4. Authorities contacted (e.g police, fire brigade etc.):
The goal is rapidly responding to the security breach, minimizing the time between detection and intervention.
This can involve dispatching security personnel to the affected area or requesting immediate assistance from law enforcement.
Training and regular drills can help operators and response teams optimize their reaction times and enhance efficiency.
Note: Clients may possess their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) which vary based on the sensitivity of their business. If their SOP dictates initiating an audio intervention through on-site speakers as the initial response, they follow that procedure. Alternatively, in certain instances, the protocol may require immediately contacting the police as the first course of action. The specific action taken depends on the SOP in place.
5. Real-time updates to on-site security:
Continuous communication with on-site security personnel is essential. Operators provide real-time updates on the situation, any developments, and the progress of the response efforts.
But this might not be the case for every live video monitoring center.
This information helps the owners of the sites make informed decisions and adapt their strategies as the situation evolves.
Response protocols by trained operators at remote video monitoring stations.
Experienced operators can precisely identify the nature of an emergency. They are highly proficient and possess all the required skills to respond to each security breach effectively.
The remote operators at a top-notch remote video monitoring center possess the following skills:
- Stay vigilant for prompt alarm response.
- Clearly convey information to relevant parties.
- Navigate alarm systems adeptly.
- Stay composed during emergencies.
- Analyze and resolve issues swiftly.
- Thoroughly review alarm data for accuracy.
- Provide reassurance and clear information to clients.
- Prioritize and handle multiple alarms efficiently.
Intervention via audio talk-downs:
Audio talk-downs involve strong verbal warnings issued by remote operators, a key feature of remote video monitoring services.
Loudspeakers strategically placed around the site broadcast these loud and clear warnings in real-time to deter intruders.
Here is how a remote operator delivers audio interventions:
When paired with sirens and strobe lights, this audio security system is even more effective and often deters thieves.
Here are different types of audio talk-downs:
- Automated audio talk-downs.
- Pre-recorded audio talk-downs.
- Real-time audio talk-downs.
Explore our blog to understand the operational procedures of audio talk-downs. Find out how you can reduce insurance premiums by leveraging audio talk-downs, along with numerous other advantages.
Notifying the relevant authorities:
The remote operator’s role extends beyond merely receiving alarms; they evaluate the situation at the location after the alarm triggered.
They are adept at managing various challenging scenarios, including fires, break-ins, vandalism, loitering and theft.
Their proficiency extends to specific response protocols for distinct emergency types.
Here we have discussed a few:
Lone Worker Alarm Response:
A video alarm receiving center can also receive alarms coming from lone worker devices. Workers in high-danger areas such as construction sites, remote facilities, or hazardous industrial zones require specialized attention.
Lone workers are equipped with devices that automatically send alerts to a central system if the wearer falls or remains stationary for too long.
These devices also trigger alarms when detecting exposure to hazardous gases. Upon receiving an alarm, operators follow established procedures, which may include automatically notifying the police, the site owner, or security personnel.
They might also try to contact the lone worker via cellphone. Notably, this process does not involve camera monitoring or audio interventions..
What do experts say about video alarm verification?
Albert Stepanyan, CEO of Scylla.ai, highlights the top benefits of video verification alarm receiving.
He emphasizes that video verification adds an extra layer of security by correlating intrusion detection with visual evidence.
This enhances security measures and saves time, enabling personnel to swiftly validate alarms, resulting in heightened efficiency and increased customer satisfaction.
Benefits of a video alarm receiving centre:
Reduce false alarms:
The occurrence of false alarms comes with a hefty price tag, involving expenditures of time, resources, and money.
Various factors can trigger false alarms, and often, many alarms identified as false might still include genuine ones.
Remote video surveillance systems effectively screen out false alarms, ensuring that only verified alarms expedite responses.
As illustrated in the accompanying image, there were 63 thousand false alarms, with only 3 thousand recognized as legitimate alarms! Imagine calling the authorities again and again and paying the false alarm penalties!
Adhere to evolving city regulation about verified alarms.
The beauty of video verification is its flexibility. As regulations shift, your system can adapt.
You can tailor monitoring protocols to align with the specific requirements of your location, ensuring your security system remains compliant with the latest standards.
Accelerate police response with verified alarms.
Confirmed or verified responses ensure a prompt and efficient reaction from the relevant authorities, be it the police or the fire department.
Video alarm receiving centers supply visual evidence, satisfying the verified response protocol of the authorities.
Conclusion:
To wrap up, a video alarm receiving center (ARC) plays a crucial role in modern security systems by swiftly responding to triggered alarms.
With the surge in CCTV cameras, false alarms have become prevalent. Trained operators in video alarm receiving centers use a verified response protocol to ensure that emergency authorities dispatch only when specific criteria confirm alarms.
Contact us today for a proactive approach to security, ensuring rapid and effective responses to potential threats at your business!
