URN Registration: How to Get Police Response for Your Commercial Intruder Alarm System

Without URN registration, your commercial intruder alarm won't qualify for police response. You've invested in security, but without this certification, police response depends on resource availability and priorities rather than your system being response-eligible. Here's exactly what you need to secure URN status and maintain eligibility for police response.

Your URN registration requires your system to meet strict NPCC Security Systems Policy standards. Your alarm must comply with BS EN 50131 and PD 6662 British Standards, be installed by NSI or SSAIB-certified providers and connect to a BS EN 50518-certified monitoring centre with proper alarm confirmation methods. Together, this reduces false alarms to the bare minimum. Otherwise, too many false alarms could revoke your URN status and remove police response eligibility entirely.

That's exactly what we deliver - systems that meet every standard from day one, with ongoing support that keeps your URN status secure and your police response eligibility active.

The Big Picture

• URN registration is mandatory for police response eligibility to commercial intruder alarms. Without it, police response isn't guaranteed and depends on resource availability - even with the most advanced system.
• Use only NSI or SSAIB-certified installers who guarantee compliance with BS EN 50131, PD 6662 and NPCC Security Systems Policy requirements.
• Install systems meeting Grade 2 or 3 standards with dual-path signalling and connect to a BS EN 50518-certified monitoring centre.
• Implement alarm confirmation methods compliant with BS 8243 to minimise false alarms that could result in URN status withdrawal.
• Conduct proper site surveys to determine appropriate system grade and ensure all user responsibilities per BS 8473 are followed.

What URN Registration Means and Why It Matters for Your Business

Imagine this: Your alarm activates at 2am. Your monitoring station verifies it's genuine. But without URN registration, police won't respond based on your system's eligibility - they'll assess based on available resources and priorities. Your premises could be vulnerable whilst you arrange a response.

That's the reality for businesses with non-compliant systems.

A Unique Reference Number (URN) transforms your commercial intruder alarm from a basic security measure into a system that qualifies for immediate police response during a genuine break-in, subject to operational priorities and resources.

Without URN registration, police response to your alarm activations isn't prioritised and depends heavily on available resources and competing demands.

The URN registration process validates that your system meets rigorous standards that insurers recognise and often require. Alarm reliability becomes essential for maintaining URN status. Excessive false alarms result in URN registration withdrawal, eliminating police response eligibility entirely until rectified.

Working with NSI/SSAIB-certified installers means your system is designed, installed and connected correctly from the start - meeting every NPCC requirement that keeps your URN active and police response eligibility available.

Meeting the NPCC Security Systems Policy Requirements

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Security Systems Policy establishes non-negotiable criteria that determine whether your intruder alarm qualifies for police response.

Your system must demonstrate monitoring compliance through specific technical and operational standards to earn URN status. No compliance means no URN - and no police response eligibility.

The NPCC requires these essential components for police response eligibility:

• Accredited installer: NSI or SSAIB certification proving competent design and installation
• Compliant system design: PD 6662 standards with appropriate Grade 2 or 3 classification
• Certified monitoring centre: BS EN 50518-accredited ARC with 24/7 staffing
• Alarm confirmation: BS 8243 sequential confirmation reducing false activations
• Controlled false alarm rate: Maximum permitted activations before URN withdrawal

System integration between detection, signalling and monitoring components must meet BS EN 50136 transmission standards.

Your installer should provide documented evidence of compliance across all elements before commissioning.

Important: The NPCC policy states that police response "will normally be immediate but is ultimately determined by the nature of demand, priorities and resources which exist at the time a request for police response is received and, therefore, cannot be guaranteed."

Essential British Standards for URN-Eligible Intruder Alarm Systems

Whilst NPCC policy sets the framework for police response eligibility, specific British Standards define the technical requirements your intruder alarm system must meet to achieve URN status.

Core Standards for URN Eligibility

Your system must comply with BS EN 50131 for fundamental system performance and PD 6662 for the UK certification scheme.

BS EN 50131 and PD 6662 compliance form the technical foundation for achieving police response eligibility through URN certification.

These standards guarantee proper grading, detector sensitivity and installation guidelines that insurers and police recognise.

BS 8243 addresses alarm confirmation methods - sequential activation, audio verification or visual confirmation - which dramatically reduces false alarms and protects your URN status.

User Responsibilities Matter

BS 8473 outlines your obligations as the system user. Proper operation prevents chargeable false callouts that could jeopardise police response eligibility.

Ask your NSI/SSAIB-certified installer to specify exactly which standards your system meets on the commissioning certificate.

Choosing the Right System and Monitoring Station

Before selecting monitoring pathways, you'll need to establish the appropriate system Grade based on your insurer requirements and business risk profile.

Your system grade determines monitoring architecture requirements and URN eligibility under the NPCC Security Systems Policy.

Grade 2 systems suit standard commercial premises with basic security needs, whilst Grade 3 addresses higher-risk environments requiring enhanced detection and signalling resilience.

We conduct thorough site surveys to determine the appropriate grade for your premises and specify monitoring architecture that matches your operational requirements.

Your choice directly impacts:

• Dual-path signalling requirements - Grade 3 typically mandates IP primary with cellular backup
• Detection coverage levels - perimeter, area and spot protection specifications
• Confirmation methods - audio verification, sequential activation or visual confirmation
• ARC processing standards - BS EN 50518 for ARC certification for alarm handling procedures
• Insurance premium calculations - higher grades often secure better rates

Match your monitoring architecture to operational requirements, not budget constraints.

Working With NSI/SSAIB-Certified Providers to Secure Your URN

Since URN registration determines whether police can respond to your intruder alarms based on eligibility rather than just resource availability, you'll need an NSI or SSAIB-certified provider who understands the NPCC Security Systems Policy requirements inside out.

As a fully accredited provider, we deliver exactly this - ensuring your system meets PD 6662 standards and maintains police response eligibility.

What Certified Installers Deliver

These accredited professionals ensure your system meets PD 6662 standards and includes proper alarm verification methods like BS 8243 sequential confirmation.

They'll specify the correct Grade (typically 2 or 3), design dual-path signalling where required and connect you to a BS EN 50518-certified ARC.

Your Provider Must Provide Evidence of:

• Current NSI/SSAIB certification covering intruder systems
• ARC partnership with documented BS EN 50518 accreditation
• Signal transmission specification meeting BS EN 50136
• Commissioning certificates declaring PD 6662 compliance
• User training protocols aligned with BS 8473

Ask potential providers to demonstrate their URN approval track record and current false alarm rates.

Before You Go

You've invested in security to protect your business, employees and assets. Don't let technical gaps compromise that protection.

As accredited installers, we ensure your system meets every NPCC requirement, maintains PD 6662 compliance and connects to certified monitoring that prevents false alarms. More importantly, we keep your URN status active so police response eligibility is maintained when genuine threats emerge.

Your URN registration isn't just paperwork. It's what ensures police response eligibility rather than leaving it entirely to chance based on available resources.

Ready to secure your URN status? Contact us to see exactly how we'll get you registered and keep you protected.