🚨 Why a Private Control Room Offers No Safety Guarantee

Misleading Claims About Control Rooms: What You Really Need to Know

Many alarm system providers peddle the deceptive claim that their systems are directly linked to the police, using phrases like “24/7 police protection” or “instant police response.” This is legally impossible for private users. Across Spain and the EU, government agencies like the police strictly prohibit direct connections with private alarm systems. Private control rooms, which handle alarm alerts, operate under the Ley de Seguridad Privada (Private Security Law, Law 5/2014), and their authority is severely restricted, rendering them far less effective than advertised.

What Really Happens When an Alarm Goes Off?

Contrary to the slick marketing of alarm companies, your alerts don’t go straight to the police—they’re funneled through a private control room. These control rooms are bound by the Ley de Seguridad Privada, specifically Article 43 (Obligations of Control Rooms in Alarm Processing) and Article 44 (Regulations for Cooperation with Authorities). These laws mandate that control rooms:

• Must first contact you or an authorized representative to verify the alert before taking any action. This mandatory verification often causes critical delays, especially if you’re asleep, on vacation, or simply miss the call, leaving your home exposed.
• Have no direct authority to summon the police without your explicit approval, meaning they’re powerless to act swiftly in an emergency, unlike a direct call you could make yourself.
• Rely entirely on your cooperation, making them ineffective when seconds count, as they can’t independently respond to a break-in.

These restrictions expose the harsh truth: control rooms are a cash grab, sold as essential for safety but delivering little to no real value. Providers exploit the myth of police connectivity to push worthless subscriptions, convincing homeowners to pay tens of euros monthly—potentially €5910 over 5 years—for a service that slows down police response compared to a direct call. Worse, these systems often lack jamming detection, meaning a €100 signal jammer, easily bought online, can disable them entirely without the control room or you ever knowing. The financial sting of lifelong subscription costs pales in comparison to the devastating reality of being left unprotected against such simple sabotage. Across the EU, not just Spain, these limitations render control room subscriptions a deceptive tactic, offering no genuine security advantage. Instead, you’re better off with a one-time investment in a subscription-free system, like our start packages starting at €399, which alert you directly and include anti-jamming technology. Learn more about our solutions at our installation packages.

The Limitations of a Private Control Room

1. No Guarantee of Follow-Up

Control rooms are commercial entities that process alerts, but there’s no legal obligation to act on every one.
➡️ In practice, evidence shows that in eight out of ten cases, no contact is made with the homeowner after an alert.

2. No Direct Police Contact

Even an authorised control room can’t call the police without verification. They must first confirm a real emergency, which can waste precious time.
➡️ During technical failures or sabotage, the alert might not even get through.

3. Language Barriers for Expats in Spain

Most Spanish control rooms don’t offer English-speaking staff. This can lead to miscommunication and delays during an alarm, critical moments when expats need clear support.

Sabotage via Jamming: A Hidden Risk

Burglars increasingly use signal jammers to sabotage wireless alarm systems.
➡️ When a jammer is deployed, the alert never reaches the control room, meaning no action is taken at all.

High Monthly Costs Without Guaranteed Results

Many people sign up for expensive control room subscriptions assuming it adds safety. In reality, a control room is just a middleman with no direct power to prevent a break-in.
➡️ Costs can climb to tens of euros per month, with no assurance of effective response.

Our Take: Is a Control Room Subscription Really Necessary?

Many homeowners think a control room is vital for safety, but there are better alternatives:

✔ Choose a system that alerts you directly on your smartphone.
✔ Opt for anti-jamming technology to thwart sabotage.
✔ Consider if a control room subscription is worth it, or if investing in stronger security makes more sense.

Don’t fall for marketing hype. Understand the limitations of control rooms and pick a solution that genuinely enhances your security.