Residents and businesses are being encouraged to register their burglar alarms – as Noise Action Week kicks off.
During the national event, everyone is encouraged to consider the noise they make and the effect it has on others.
Alarms going off accidentally can be extremely annoying – often waking up an entire neighbourhood.
Now, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Noise Team is using Noise Action Week to promote key holder registration and encourage residents and businesses with alarms to register key holder details with the Police.
From 23 to 27 May, Noise Officers will be visiting streets with a higher density of businesses and residential properties to tell people about the scheme.
Cards detailing how to register will also be handed out.
Registration details will also be sent to companies who sell alarms to remind customers about the importance of the key holder scheme.
Excluding anti-social behaviour noise calls, the Council receives around 2500 complaints about noise per year; in excess of 350 of these relate to alarm noise.
If an alarm goes off and the owner is not contactable it can often cost the householder or business additional expense as officers may have to serve Notice and force entry into the property to silence the alarm.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s Environment Leader, said: “We’re very keen to ensure that there’s a better awareness about domestic and business noise. Noise Action Week is a great way to publicise the key holder scheme. We all have a responsibility to each other, whether as employers, neighbours or because we’re sharing the same public space.”
A police spokesperson said: “Lothian and Borders Police recognise the disturbance to residents which can be caused by accidental alarm activations. The ability to trace a premises owner in the event of a break-in also serves as an important tool in the detection and investigation of crime. Accordingly we are keen to support the City of Edinburgh Council in this initiative.”
The Council’s noise service deals with complaints about commercial, domestic, entertainment and industrial premises, as well as that from construction works.
If it’s possible to demonstrate that there is a statutory nuisance, the Council can serve an enforcement notice.
