As of January 1, 2024, the Greater Sudbury Police Service will be joining many other police services in the province by launching a Verified Security Alarm Response Program (VSARP). This will require Alarm Monitoring Services to verify any alarm signal they receive prior to notifying police. Verifying an alarm signal prior to calling police will also be required by home and business owners for residential and business alarms.

Between 2017 and 2021, the Greater Sudbury Police Service averaged 3,756 alarm calls for service annually. 95 percent of these calls for service were deemed to be false alarms. Despite the chronically low validity rate, alarm calls for service are treated as crimes in progress and prompt a high priority police response. The adoption of VSARP is expected to significantly reduce the number of alarms requiring a police response. 

Effective January 1, 2024, the GSPS will not dispatch officers to alarm calls unless there is confirmation of a criminal act, imminent threat to personal safety, or medical or fire emergency through one or more of the following:

  • Audio monitoring
  • Video monitoring
  • Witnesses on scene
  • Multiple activation points (sensors)

It is important to note that the GSPS will continue to dispatch officers to calls involving panic, duress or hold-up alarms. These calls will NOT require verification prior to police dispatch.

In alignment with alarm industry norms, there will be an increase in fees for police response to false alarms. 

Additionally, the GSPS will now issue a partial alarm fee for cancelled accepted false alarms where officers have not yet arrived at the premises but have been dispatched. 

The following fees will apply;

  • False Alarm - $160.00 + HST
  • Cancelled Accepted False Alarm - $80.00 + HST                                                                                              

Further, the Alarm Monitoring Services will be billed instead of the property owners.  

These changes will not only assist the GSPS with ensuring that time spent at alarm calls for service is necessary, but VSARP is also being implemented to ensure that residential and commercial business alarm owners will not incur unnecessary fees. GSPS remains committed to efficient and effective deployment of resources.

Registrations completed after December 31, 2021 for the False Alarm Program may be eligible for a refund. Please contact our Alarm Coordinator via email at alarms@gsps.ca or via phone at 705-675-9171 extension 2523 for more details.

For more information regarding the VSARP and for tips in preventing false alarms, please visit Verified Security Alarm Response Program

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