A CLAMPDOWN on burglar alarms which cause a nuisance by sounding for prolonged periods has been launched by St Helens Council.

Complaints about faulty alarms which annoy neighbours because the occupier is away have risen by 400 per cent nationally in 10 years.

St Helens has limited environmental health staff to combat the problem and is appealing for public co-operation to help them. They urge householders with burglar alarms to:

Notify police in writing of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two keyholders.

Ensure keyholders have telephones, can reach the alarm within 20 minutes and are familiar with its operation.

Notify keyholder changes to police within 24 hours.

Have an automatic cut-out on your alarm, subject to the insurer's agreement.

The council also advises alarm installers to supply customers with blank notification forms to complete and hand to the police.

Councillor Richard Ward, chairman of the council's Housing and Environmental Services Committee, said: "Some alarms cause considerable nuisance by sounding for days and nights on end. By following a few common sense rules, the public and companies which install alarms can help to minimise the problem."

FURTHER advice can be obtained from the Environmental Health Section, Wesley House, Corporation Street, St Helens, telephone (01744) 456338 or 456353.

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