Hampshire Constabulary

Emergency Text Service is launched across the South West

Press Releases

Published: 07/10/2008

Emergency services throughout the South West of England are enhancing their partnership working as the emergency text number for deaf people and speech impaired people becomes available this month.

The 80999 text number has been used in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2004, where text messages are received directly in to the police control room. The controller then calls for assistance as required from any of the emergency services, including police, fire and rescue, ambulance, coastguard, mountain and cave rescue.

There are now four more forces joining Hampshire Constabulary, expanding this invaluable service to those who are deaf or speech impaired right across the South West, encompassing the areas of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall.

The police forces are publicising the number with a specially designed leaflet which shows an example of the type of incident where the service could be used.  It shows a hearing impaired woman who comes across a crashed car and texts for help.

This service has been introduced to improve access for deaf people and speech impaired people to the emergency services, and compliments the work of Hampshire Constabulary’s Police Link Officers for Deaf People (PLOD), which has been active for almost 10 years.

The public launch of this service coincides with Learn to Sign Week, an annual series of events coordinated by the British Deaf Association which gives schools the opportunity to get involved, with anything from learning British Sign Language to helping raise money for the charity.

Sergeant Glen Barham MBE, who has been working to improve access to the police service for those with hearing and speech impairments for many years, and has been instrumental in the introduction of the PLOD scheme and the 80999 service within Hampshire Constabulary, said, “I am really excited to be part of the expansion of this service, which has been very successful here in Hampshire and will no doubt be just as successful in the four other force areas joining us.

“Many of us are fortunate enough not to require the emergency services often, if at all, but just knowing you have access to them can provide immense reassurance.  This mobile text service gives that reassurance to people who cannot use voice telecommunications and reduces a significant barrier in an emergency situation.”

Liz Jones, Chief Executive Officer for Hampshire Deaf Association, said, “Building on the success in Hampshire to date, the expansion of the 80999 emergency text number across the South West in an exciting development in providing equitable provision to emergency services for deaf and speech impaired people living in this area.

“The leaflet produced is visual and clearly outlines pictorially how to use the service.  I can see it’s usefulness beyond those for whom it has originally been designed.

“HDA are delighted to be associated with this initiative and look forward to seeing its launch on a national level.”

There is currently a national project ongoing within the Home Office to introduce a National Emergency Text number, which is due to be developed over the next year or two, and will replace the 80999 service.  In the meantime the South West forces saw an opportunity to improve access to their emergency services for the members of their many communities, and are taking historic steps in the implementation of that service.

Important points about the service: This service is provided as a specific access service for people who cannot use voice telephony and is not an additional service for general contact. Voice contact to the 999 service remains the choice for those able to access it.

No text messages are guaranteed to arrive quickly, and the service relies on the mobile phone companies and the network. Hampshire Constabulary cannot be held responsible for delays in receiving messages. A person using the service will know their message has been received only when they receive a reply. Until a reply is received, it is advisable to try other ways to contact the emergency services.

Notes to Editors: Hampshire Constabulary launched their PLOD scheme in 1999, and have a number of officers across the force who have varying levels of experience with British Sign Language, Lip Speaking and Deaf Blind communication.

Police Link Officers for Deaf people aim to promote equality of access to the police for people who are deaf, deafblind, deafened and hard of hearing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Since its creation, officers involved in PLOD have also worked with many other forces to promote their own link schemes, and have worked in a number of internal projects to further improve access.