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This page has been developed by the Licensing and Regulation Division to provide information on Alpha Codes and Alpha Code responses to alarms by Victoria Police.

Any person or business that requires Category 'A 'alarm responses should only use security monitoring companies that hold a current Alpha Code. A list of current Alpha Code companies can be found here.

1. What is an Alpha Code?
2. What is a Category 'A' alarm?
3. Who can be issued with an Alpha Code?
4. What are Victoria Police's Alarm Response Procedures?
5. How do I obtain an Alpha Code?
6. Do I need to be the holder of a Victorian Private Security Business Licence to obtain an Alpha Code?
7. Do I need to renew my Alpha Code?
8. Is there a cost to obtain an Alpha Code from Victoria Police?
9. How do I obtain a grading certificate for my monitoring company?

1. What is an Alpha Code?

An Alpha Code is a three letter code issued by the Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD) to licensed and graded security monitoring companies to allow them to obtain police assistance for Category 'A' alarms.

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2. What is a Category 'A' alarm?
Types of Category A alarms include holdup alarms, fixed duress alarms, high risk premises alarms, multi-sector or multi-break alarms, or communication failure alarms.

Category A duress alarms only include those that have a dedicated duress alarm button installed in the secured premises. Police will not respond to alarms caused by power failures or telephone/broadband outages. It is the responsibility of the alarm monitoring company to ascertain if a power or other infrastructure failure caused the alarm prior to contacting  000 (triple zero).

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3. Who can be issued with an Alpha Code?

LRD will only issue Alpha Codes to licensed security monitoring businesses that hold a grading certificate.

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4. What are Victoria Police's Alarm Response Procedures?

The Victoria Police Alarm Response Procedures were developed partnership with the private security industry and outline that alarms are allocated into three defined categories.

In order for Victoria Police to respond to the highest category of alarm, Category 'A' alarms, security companies must contact Victoria Police by ringing 000 (triple zero) and communicate their Alpha Code.

The Alarm Response Procedures ensure that police resources are not unnecessarily diverted to attend unwarranted alarms and that when they are required police are available to attend alarm activations that meet the designated criteria.

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5. Do I need to be the holder of a Victorian Private Security Business Licence to obtain an Alpha Code?

If your security monitoring business is based in Victoria, you will need to be the holder of a Victorian Private Security Business Licence.  If your business operations are based in another state but you have Victorian clients you may be eligible to be issued with an Alpha Code.

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6. How do I obtain an Alpha Code?

Alpha Codes can only be granted by LRD to licenced and graded security monitoring businesses. Applications for an Alpha Code can be made in writing via post or email to licensingregulation@police.vic.gov.au .

Requests must be marked for the attention of the Compliance Support Unit and contain the following:

• Full business name and address;
• Monitoring company's contact person, including contact details and e-mail address;
• Authority/permission to add the company details to the Licensing & Regulation website as an Alpha Code business;
• Copy of current grading certificate;
• Copy of current business licence, if not licensed in Victoria.

Upon receipt of all required information, an Alpha Code will be issued to the monitoring company together with specific information relevant to Victoria Police's Alarm Response Procedures.

Where a company ceases to operate a monitoring centre, and/or no longer requires an Alpha Code, they must promptly notify LRD in writing.

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7. Do I need to renew my Alpha Code?

Prior to the expiry of a security monitoring company's current grading certificate, the company must provide evidence to LRD of their grading renewal. If evidence of grading renewal is not provided to LRD the company's Alpha Code may be withdrawn.

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8. Is there a cost to obtain an Alpha Code from Victoria Police?

No. There is no cost to obtain an Alpha Code from Victoria Police. 

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9. How do I obtain a grading certificate for my monitoring company?

Victoria Police does not issue grading certificates for security monitoring companies. For more information about obtaining a grading certificate contact the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) or the Victorian Security Institute (VSI).

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