false alarms
Barnet Council is seeing reduced fire incidents due to a new policy on automatic fire alarms.
In March 2026, Barnet fire stations reported a decrease in incidents, partly attributed to a new policy for responding to automatic fire alarms (AFAs). This policy, implemented by the London Fire Brigade, means they no longer attend AFAs in non-residential commercial buildings during certain hours, allowing more time for prevention work.
The new AFA policy aims to reduce unnecessary activations of fire alarms, which are calls or reports of an emergency that are not genuine. This shift in approach has led to a reduction of approximately 300 incidents compared to the previous year, with 5,127 incidents attended in the past year.
Key facts
- Barnet fire stations attended 5,127 incidents in the past year. Source
- Incidents attended by Barnet fire stations decreased by approximately 300 from the previous year. Source
- A new policy for Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs) contributed to this reduction. Source
- The London Fire Brigade will not attend AFAs in non-residential commercial buildings. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.