False CCTV alarms can not only be frustrating, but they can also be detrimental to a business’s productivity and day-to-day operations. Not to mention the unnecessary call on the emergency services that result in their valuable time being wasted.
However, it doesn’t have to be like this! There are in fact numerous ways in which you can prevent false CCTV alarms. Take note of our 6 tips on how to prevent false CCTV alarms below.
What are False Alarms?
False alarms can occur for a number of reasons. From wild animals activating sensors, the weather triggering detectors, to individuals putting in the wrong security codes, false CCTV alarms are a common occurrence for businesses. In fact, reports continue to highlight the scale of the issue, with it being estimated that over 90% of all alarm activations in the UK are false and that this can cost UK businesses over £1 billion annually due to lost productivity and unnecessary call-outs. A previous study that found that 93% of UK firms reported experiencing an excess of CCTV false alarms linked to poor installation or maintenance, continues to ring true for many companies.
The impact of these false alerts extends to law enforcement and fire services. For example, the NPCC Police Requirements for Security Systems stipulate that Police response may be downgraded or even withdrawn if a monitored alarm system generates three or more false alarms within a rolling 12-month period, which underscores the responsibility placed on business owners and monitoring providers.
Furthermore, the UK Fire and Rescue Services attended 254,041 false fire alarms in the last year, the highest figure since 2011, with apparatus faults being the main culprit, as detailed in the UK Government’s fire and rescue incident statistics. This collective strain on vital public resources makes a proactive approach to false alarm reduction critical for commercial premises.
6 Tips on How to Prevent False CCTV Alarms
Keep Animals Out and Optimise Detection
Wild animals and insects are a common cause of false CCTV alarms being triggered, especially within outdoor areas and sites, like those used in the manufacturing, waste, and recycling sectors. If possible, make sure your premises are closed off to wild animals, such as foxes and deer. Alternatively, use volumetric sensors that only activate when they detect objects of 15kg or more. This, therefore, eliminates small animals and insects and should significantly reduce the amount of false CCTV alarms caused by animals.
The introduction of AI-powered video analytics is also revolutionising this area, with some systems capable of eliminating up to 95% of motion noise by accurately distinguishing between humans/vehicles and benign movements like animals or shadows, according to industry reports. This advanced filtering is key to improving the operational efficiency of your security monitoring systems.
Train New Employees and Review Protocols
It’s important for any new employee who has access to the CCTV system to understand it and know how to work the system properly. They will need to know where all the sensors are, any upkeep that needs to take place, as well as how to properly arm and disarm the cameras. Simple user mistakes are a common cause of false CCTV alarms being triggered. In environments like offices or student accommodation, where multiple users interact with the system, clear training and documented procedures are essential.
This training should cover correct use, the process for reporting faults, and understanding the significance of the alarm system to minimise human error, which is a major contributor to false alerts. We have found that providing a concise alarm monitoring handover document can drastically improve compliance and system management among staff.
Regularly Clean Cameras and Check Environmental Factors
Did you know that dust, dirt or cobwebs on CCTV cameras and their lenses can cause false alarms? Make sure all cameras are regularly cleaned and are free of any screen obstructions in order to prevent false CCTV alarms. This is particularly important for cameras covering sectors like restaurants, where grease and steam can quickly obscure lenses.
Furthermore, environmental factors such as direct sunlight, rapid temperature changes, or strong reflections can be misinterpreted as movement by traditional motion-detection systems. Positioning cameras to minimise these environmental interferences, alongside regular cleaning, is a simple yet effective strategy for reducing nuisance alarms.
Trim Back Nearby Trees and Manage Foliage
Many businesses don’t realise that nearby trees and bushes can cause a false CCTV trigger before it’s too late. Keep on top of nearby foliage and other obstructions that could start to enter a CCTV’s sensor zone. It’s also important to consider the impact of the weather and how factors such as wind could cause a tree or bush to be blown into a CCTV’s sensor. This is a common challenge for residential and large commercial properties with extensive grounds.
Modern systems allow for ‘masking’ or ‘exclusion zones’ to be set in the video analytics software, helping to ignore areas known for wind-blown movement, yet this should always be supported by routine grounds maintenance to ensure optimal camera view and functionality, safeguarding your intruder monitoring capability.
Carry Out Regular System Maintenance and Compliance Checks
It could be that a system fault is causing your CCTV system to trigger false alarms. By having a regular maintenance plan in place, any system faults will be able to be identified and resolved, saving you time and money in the aftermath of a false alarm. A system that is poorly maintained or configured may not meet the standards required for NSI Gold accreditation, which can impact your police response level. Regular system health checks are vital, not just for preventing false alarms caused by faulty sensors or wiring, but also for ensuring the entire system, including data transmission pathways, is working reliably.
This proactive approach to remote health and safety patrols of the system ensures you maintain your security efficacy and comply with any insurance requirements, which we cover in detail in our blog on how backup protocols are key for remote monitoring.
Outsource CCTV Monitoring to a Professional Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)
CCTV monitoring is whereby a third party ARC monitor an entire CCTV system. As well as remotely identifying faults in the system, monitoring operatives will also be able to quickly and effectively identify and confirm false alarms through video verification. This verification process is crucial for maintaining an appropriate Police response, as it significantly reduces the number of false calls to emergency services.
The main benefit of having professional security monitoring in place is that if a CCTV alarm proves to be true, they will be able to action the most appropriate emergency response, however, if it turns out to be false, they can quickly cancel the alarm and save the emergency services a wasted visit. For instance, our expert team provides this verification as part of our comprehensive cctv monitoring services, ensuring that real incidents get the attention they deserve while filtering out the noise. This capability is paramount, especially when considering the recent advancements in AI, which our blog on the role of ai in enhancing video surveillance accuracy discusses in depth.
Leveraging Technology to Drastically Reduce False Alarms
The ongoing battle against false alarms is increasingly being won through the smart integration of technology, particularly with the rise of AI and machine learning in video surveillance. Modern CCTV systems use sophisticated algorithms that can be trained to recognise specific behaviours (like loitering or climbing a fence) and ignore common nuisance triggers (like a spider building a web or a plastic bag blowing past). This technology shifts the focus from simple motion detection to intelligent object and behaviour recognition, leading to a much higher rate of “true” alarms and drastically cutting down on false positives. When coupled with services like our remote patrol function, where an operative can visually verify the scene, the security solution becomes far more reliable and cost-effective, directly improving your return on investment.
Furthermore, integrating your video systems with other services like fire alarm monitoring and intruder monitoring creates a unified security platform, allowing the ARC to cross-verify an alarm from multiple sources before escalating, as we detail in our guide on key advantages of combining fire security and environmental monitoring systems. This multi-layered verification is the gold standard for reducing false calls and ensuring rapid, appropriate responses to genuine threats.
Preventing False CCTV Alarms with RMS
RMS can help prevent false CCTV alarms on business sites and premises. We specialise in implementing smart monitoring solutions that leverage the latest in video analytics and verification to protect your assets while maintaining high compliance standards.
Find out more about our complete what we do range of services, including our advanced CCTV monitoring and receive a FREE quote by getting in touch online or by calling 0330 002 1149.
Make sure to check our blog on how CCTV works to learn more.
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