In an emergency, every second counts. However, most calls between Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) operators and police services are conducted manually with voice calling which, despite having well-trained and dedicated call handlers in operation, can result in errors and delays.
The Electronic Call Handling Operations (ECHO) initiative is designed to transform the way ARCs communicate with blue light services. Digitising and automating call handling can avoid mistakes and slash police response times.
In this blog, we speak to Stuart Bowman, Security Systems Manager for Essex Police, responsible for the implementation of the NPCC requirements for responsible security systems policy. He has been in his role since 1985 and has therefore overseen wholesale changes to the policing and security systems industries. Stuart is also a member of the
NPCC Security Systems Working Group, where he represents Essex and the Eastern Region Forces of Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
We discuss the ongoing ECHO rollout and the importance of ECHO-compliant alarm systems to police forces, ARCs, and the public.