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The Metropolitan Police announced the figures while commending the best installing companies at its fifth annual alarm performance awards ceremony. Communications branch commander Ron McPherson commented: "It is as a result of working with private security companies that we have been able to tackle the problem of false alarms so effectively."

More than a quarter of all remotely monitored alarm systems in the UK are in the London area. Almost 250,000 systems came under the Met's area, he pointed out.

The awards were sponsored by BT Redcare, whose general manager Jon Furmston commented: "This unique event recognises those installation companies which actively work to reduce false activations. High standards are crucial in our industry and with the introduction of new European standards, the need for quality systems installed by quality companies will become even more important."

There were categories for large, medium and small installation companies, and the appropriate alarm receiving centres were also praised for their contribution to the success.

Winners (with relevant ARC in brackets) were:

Large companies:

• Gold – Chubb Electronic Security (SMC Chubb)
  
• Silver – Banham Alarms (CMS Banham)
  
• Bronze – ADT Fire and Security (ADT).

Medium companies:

• Gold – Tara Burglar Alarms (Banham)
  
• Silver – London East Security Centre (Securiguard)
  
• Bronze – Spy Alarms (Custodian).

Small companies:

• Gold - Cox Security (Yeoman Monitoring Services)
  
• Silver – Protech Alarms (EMCS)
  
• Bronze – Capital Security Alarms (Custodian & Southern Monitoring Services)

In the year ending December 2002 there were 249,889 alarm systems in the London area, compared to 214,491 the previous year. In 2001 there were 150,337 false activations. In 2002 there were 93,733.