Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Key Contact

A new service now provided by Northamptonshire Police means that homeowners can now have peace of mind, knowing that the people they want will be contacted should something happen to their home.

The new Key Contact Residential scheme, means that homeowners are able to provide the police with up-to five contacts that the control room operative can call, if there is an incident at the home and the homeowner is unavailable or cannot be reached

This service is particularly beneficial for people on holiday, shift workers, people who live alone, the elderly, those who take regular business trips, are new to the area, or anyone else who wants piece of mind – for just £15 a year – that’s less than five pence a day.

The Key Contact residential service comes on the back of the already successful Key Contact business scheme, which offers businesses the same great service.

The police may be called out to a property for a number of reasons, this may not necessarily be a burglary and could be any other incident that has occurred at the house and officers have attended.

Heidi Brown, Key Contact administrator, said: "When you subscribe to Key Contact, we record your property details in the control room. So if there is an incident at your property we immediately know who to contact. Most importantly you can give us the details of up to five people you would like us to get in touch with, if for whatever reason you cannot be contacted.

"This means that someone you trust can deal with the situation as soon as it occurs. The added benefit of Key Contact to members of the public is that you can also provide us with details of your preferred supplier or tradesperson e.g. a locksmith.

"Often the police may have to call out a tradesperson at short notice because a property needs securing following a burglary. This can upset the property owner, as it may not necessarily be the people or company they would have preferred.

"Although burglary has reduced significantly in the County and is not a major problem for us, this service can help to increase public reassurance.  

"Key Contact Residential is a great way to get that extra bit of piece of mind, that should something happen at your property, no matter what time of day, the people you want contacted will be the people on our list."

Other forces do have a keyholder scheme similar to KeyContact but will vary in the amount charged. 

Dorset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Warwickshire Police, Hampshire Constabulary, Merseyside Police, Essex Police, Kent Police, Surrey Police, Lancashire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary and Strathclyde Police are among other forces also looking into setting up a keyholder scheme.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 03000 111 222 ext 8041

Online: www.northants.police.uk/keycontact

5th January 2011