False alarms in
Kingston upon
Thames.

London Fire Brigade attended 560 automatic fire alarm false alarms in Kingston upon Thames in 2025, 1.5 a day. No other London area had fewer.

Rank in London, 2025

33of 33

The fewest AFA false alarms
of any London area

  • 560 attended in 2025
  • 1.5 a day, on average
  • 1.2% of the London total
560
AFA false alarms attended in 2025
417 residential, 143 non-residential
1.5
a day, on average
London: 128.9 a day
-18.2%
change on 2024
125 fewer than the 685 in 2024
-70.4%
daytime non-residential attendance
year after the 2024 policy change against the year before

What is counted. Incidents London Fire Brigade attended in Kingston upon Thames and recorded as a false alarm from an automatic fire alarm. Alarms that sounded and were not attended are not in the data. How the Index is built.

Kingston upon Thames · 2019 to 2025

Bottom of the
London table.

Kingston upon Thames had the fewest automatic fire alarm (AFA) false alarms of any London area in 2025: 560, or 1.2% of the London total. They made up 32.5% of everything the Brigade attended in the borough, close to the London figure of 34.1%. The count is not adjusted for population or for the number of buildings.

The 2025 total was 125 lower than in 2024 (-18.2%). The highest year in the series was 2023, with 719, and the lowest was 2021, with 549.

From 1 January to 31 July 2026 the Brigade attended 406 AFA false alarms in Kingston upon Thames, against 280 in the same dates of 2025 (+45.0%, a larger rise than London’s +10.0%). 2026 is a part year and should not be set against a full one.

AFA false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames, 2019 to 2025

By calendar year of the 999 call. 2026 covers 1 January to 31 July 2026 only and is drawn paler.

  • Residential (dwellings and other residential)
  • Non-residential
  • Part year
Stacked column chart of automatic fire alarm false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames each year from 2019 to 2025, split into residential and non-residential property, with 2026 shown separately as a part year. 2025: 560. Highest year: 2023 with 719.02004006008002019: 623 in total. non-residential 324, residential 29962320192020: 555 in total. non-residential 272, residential 28355520202021: 549 in total. non-residential 280, residential 26954920212022: 625 in total. non-residential 274, residential 35162520222023: 719 in total. non-residential 269, residential 44971920232024: 685 in total. non-residential 272, residential 41368520242025: 560 in total. non-residential 143, residential 41756020252026 to 31 Jul: 406 in total. non-residential 96, residential 3104062026to 31 Jul
Stacked column chart of automatic fire alarm false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames each year from 2019 to 2025, split into residential and non-residential property, with 2026 shown separately as a part year. 2025: 560. Highest year: 2023 with 719.02004006008002019: 623 in total. non-residential 324, residential 29962320192020: 555 in total. non-residential 272, residential 28320202021: 549 in total. non-residential 280, residential 26920212022: 625 in total. non-residential 274, residential 35120222023: 719 in total. non-residential 269, residential 44971920232024: 685 in total. non-residential 272, residential 41320242025: 560 in total. non-residential 143, residential 41756020252026 to 31 Jul: 406 in total. non-residential 96, residential 3104062026to 31 Jul
Show the numbers as a table
AFA false alarms attended by London Fire Brigade in Kingston upon Thames, by period.
PeriodAFA false alarmsResidentialNon-residentialPer dayRank of 33Change
2019 623 299 324 1.7 32 +0.8%
2020 555 283 272 1.5 32 -10.9%
2021 549 269 280 1.5 32 -1.1%
2022 625 351 274 1.7 32 +13.8%
2023 719 449 269 2.0 32 +15.0%
2024 685 413 272 1.9 32 -4.7%
2025 560 417 143 1.5 33 -18.2%
2026, 1 January to 31 July 2026 406 310 96 1.9 32 +45.0%
Incidents attended, not alarm activations. The number on each column is the total for the period. The source has no incidents dated 31 December 2023. Source: London Fire Brigade Incident Records, London Datastore. Analysis: Gemini AMPM.
The policy change · 29 October 2024

Daytime attendance
at workplaces: -70.4%.

Since 29 October 2024 London Fire Brigade has not attended automatic fire alarms at most non-residential buildings between 07:00 and 20:30 unless a person also calls 999 to report a fire. Homes, schools, hospitals and the other premises on its exemption list still get a response at any hour.

In the year before London Fire Brigade changed its response on 29 October 2024, it attended 223 AFA false alarms at non-residential buildings in Kingston upon Thames between 07:00 and 20:30. In the year after it attended 66 (-70.4%). That is the largest percentage fall of the 33 areas. The London figure is -53.4%. Residential attendances, which the policy does not affect, also fell, from 424 to 402 (-5.2%), though across London they rose (+4.5%).

Before and after in Kingston upon Thames

AFA false alarms attended. Year before: 29 October 2023 to 28 October 2024. Year after: 29 October 2024 to 28 October 2025.
GroupYear beforeYear afterChange%
Non-residential, 07:00 to 20:30 223 66 -157 -70.4%
Property types not named as exempt 170 30 -140 -82.4%
Hospitals, schools, nurseries, prisons 53 36 -17 -32.1%
Non-residential, outside those hours 69 90 +21 +30.4%
Residential, all hours 424 402 -22 -5.2%
All AFA false alarms 716 558 -158 -22.1%

A fall in attendance, not in alarms. The records count incidents the Brigade attended. They cannot show how many alarms sounded in Kingston upon Thames and were not attended. For a non-exempt building in the policy hours, finding out why the alarm went off, and calling 999 if there is a fire, is now the building’s job. The counts here are small, so the percentages move a long way on a few incidents.

What building managers can do, for commercial buildings in the policy hours and for residential blocks.

Daytime non-residential attendances in Kingston upon Thames, month by month

Non-residential AFA false alarms attended between 07:00 and 20:30, Jan 2023 to Jul 2026.

  • Months before the change
  • Months after the change
Column chart of non-residential automatic fire alarm false alarms attended between 07:00 and 20:30 in Kingston upon Thames, by month from Jan 2023 to Jul 2026. 223 in the year before the change on 29 October 2024, 66 in the year after.0102030Jan 2023: 152023Feb 2023: 18Mar 2023: 14Apr 2023: 16May 2023: 19Jun 2023: 14Jul 2023: 22Aug 2023: 18Sep 2023: 13Oct 2023: 13Nov 2023: 27Dec 2023: 19Jan 2024: 112024Feb 2024: 22Mar 2024: 18Apr 2024: 15May 2024: 15Jun 2024: 17Jul 2024: 26Aug 2024: 23Sep 2024: 13Oct 2024: 16Nov 2024: 8Dec 2024: 4Jan 2025: 42025Feb 2025: 9Mar 2025: 5Apr 2025: 6May 2025: 5Jun 2025: 5Jul 2025: 4Aug 2025: 3Sep 2025: 7Oct 2025: 6Nov 2025: 5Dec 2025: 8Jan 2026: 82026Feb 2026: 5Mar 2026: 6Apr 2026: 5May 2026: 7Jun 2026: 8Jul 2026: 729 Oct 2024
Column chart of non-residential automatic fire alarm false alarms attended between 07:00 and 20:30 in Kingston upon Thames, by month from Jan 2023 to Jul 2026. 223 in the year before the change on 29 October 2024, 66 in the year after.0102030Jan 2023: 152023Feb 2023: 18Mar 2023: 14Apr 2023: 16May 2023: 19Jun 2023: 14Jul 2023: 22Aug 2023: 18Sep 2023: 13Oct 2023: 13Nov 2023: 27Dec 2023: 19Jan 2024: 112024Feb 2024: 22Mar 2024: 18Apr 2024: 15May 2024: 15Jun 2024: 17Jul 2024: 26Aug 2024: 23Sep 2024: 13Oct 2024: 16Nov 2024: 8Dec 2024: 4Jan 2025: 42025Feb 2025: 9Mar 2025: 5Apr 2025: 6May 2025: 5Jun 2025: 5Jul 2025: 4Aug 2025: 3Sep 2025: 7Oct 2025: 6Nov 2025: 5Dec 2025: 8Jan 2026: 82026Feb 2026: 5Mar 2026: 6Apr 2026: 5May 2026: 7Jun 2026: 8Jul 2026: 729 Oct 2024
Show the numbers as a table
Non-residential AFA false alarms attended between 07:00 and 20:30 in Kingston upon Thames, by month.
MonthAttendedPeriod
Jan 202315Before
Feb 202318Before
Mar 202314Before
Apr 202316Before
May 202319Before
Jun 202314Before
Jul 202322Before
Aug 202318Before
Sep 202313Before
Oct 202313Before
Nov 202327Before
Dec 202319Before
Jan 202411Before
Feb 202422Before
Mar 202418Before
Apr 202415Before
May 202415Before
Jun 202417Before
Jul 202426Before
Aug 202423Before
Sep 202413Before
Oct 202416Before (includes the first 3 days after)
Nov 20248After
Dec 20244After
Jan 20254After
Feb 20259After
Mar 20255After
Apr 20256After
May 20255After
Jun 20255After
Jul 20254After
Aug 20253After
Sep 20257After
Oct 20256After
Nov 20255After
Dec 20258After
Jan 20268After
Feb 20265After
Mar 20266After
Apr 20265After
May 20267After
Jun 20268After
Jul 20267After
Incidents attended, not alarm activations. Oct 2024 includes three days after the change and is shown as a “before” month. Source: London Fire Brigade Incident Records, London Datastore. Analysis: Gemini AMPM.
Where the alarms are · 2025

Mostly homes,
not workplaces.

Homes and other residential buildings account for 417 of the 560 (74.5%), and non-residential buildings for 25.5%, close to the London split. The property type with the most was “Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeys” (78, 13.9% of the borough total), followed by “Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeys” (71). Across London the leading type is “Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeys”.

Property types with the most AFA false alarms in Kingston upon Thames, 2025

Property type as recorded by London Fire Brigade crews. The percentage is the share of all AFA false alarms in the borough.

  • Residential
  • Non-residential
Bar chart of the property types with the most automatic fire alarm false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames in 2025. Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeys is the largest with 78.Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeysPurpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeys: 78 (13.9%)7813.9%Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeysPurpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeys: 71 (12.7%)7112.7%House - single occupancyHouse - single occupancy: 65 (11.6%)6511.6%Self contained Sheltered HousingSelf contained Sheltered Housing: 60 (10.7%)6010.7%Student Hall of ResidenceStudent Hall of Residence: 39 (7.0%)397.0%Infant/Primary schoolInfant/Primary school: 33 (5.9%)335.9%Converted Flat/Maisonettes - 3 or more storeysConverted Flat/Maisonettes - 3 or more storeys: 24 (4.3%)244.3%Converted Flat/Maisonette - Up to 2 storeysConverted Flat/Maisonette - Up to 2 storeys: 21 (3.8%)213.8%
Bar chart of the property types with the most automatic fire alarm false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames in 2025. Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeys is the largest with 78.Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeysPurpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeys: 78 (13.9%)7813.9%Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeysPurpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeys: 71 (12.7%)7112.7%House - single occupancyHouse - single occupancy: 65 (11.6%)6511.6%Self contained Sheltered HousingSelf contained Sheltered Housing: 60 (10.7%)6010.7%Student Hall of ResidenceStudent Hall of Residence: 39 (7.0%)397.0%Infant/Primary schoolInfant/Primary school: 33 (5.9%)335.9%Converted Flat/Maisonettes - 3 or more storeysConverted Flat/Maisonettes - 3 or more storeys: 24 (4.3%)244.3%Converted Flat/Maisonette - Up to 2 storeysConverted Flat/Maisonette - Up to 2 storeys: 21 (3.8%)213.8%
Show the numbers as a table
AFA false alarms attended in Kingston upon Thames in 2025, by property type (top eight).
Property typeCategoryAFA false alarms% of area total
Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - Up to 3 storeysDwelling7813.9%
Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes - 4 to 9 storeysDwelling7112.7%
House - single occupancyDwelling6511.6%
Self contained Sheltered HousingDwelling6010.7%
Student Hall of ResidenceOther Residential397.0%
Infant/Primary schoolNon Residential335.9%
Converted Flat/Maisonettes - 3 or more storeysDwelling244.3%
Converted Flat/Maisonette - Up to 2 storeysDwelling213.8%
Incidents attended, not alarm activations. The eight property types with the most in 2025. A count by property type says where crews were sent, not what set the alarm off. Period: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Source: London Fire Brigade Incident Records, London Datastore. Analysis: Gemini AMPM.
In the league table

Next to Kingston upon Thames
in the ranking.

Buildings in Kingston upon Thames

If the alarms
are yours.

Gemini AMPM designs, installs, maintains and monitors fire alarm systems across London. Our fire alarm maintenance visits review the activation history each time, fire alarm monitoring puts a verification call between the panel and a 999 call, and remedial works covers the device and panel changes that remove a repeat cause.

Gemini AMPM in London: where we work and the sectors we work in. If false alarms are a problem in your building, tell us about it.

Data for Kingston upon Thames

Every figure on this page is in the borough table (CSV), with the same measures for all 33 areas and for London. Definitions and checks are on the methodology page.

This edition was generated on 5 October 2026 and covers incidents to 31 July 2026. The Index is refreshed when London Fire Brigade publishes new data.

Source and licence

Source: London Fire Brigade, London Fire Brigade Incident Records, published on the London Datastore (data.london.gov.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0. The Greater London Authority cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of the data. This analysis is by Gemini AMPM. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with or approved by London Fire Brigade or the Greater London Authority.

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