Dialogue launches Police text number for deaf

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I love reading about these kinds of applications.

Dialogue, the mobile solutions specialist, has launched a dedicated text number for Northumbria Police non-emergencies. The number is 0778 6200 815.

The Police Control room receives the text messages — and critically — it can REPLY as well. Often in the past, I’ve written about services that are, alas, one-way. Two-way is always best. That’s what text is about.

Here’s how it works:

The two-way SMS is a simple to use service whereby a text message is sent, it is then converted into an email and delivered to the police communications centre. The caller then receives a return SMS within seconds to say their text has been passed to the police, who will reply to this enquiry within 24 hours, with a reminder if this is an emergency you must dial 999. Any further communication can be made via email, which is automatically converted to a text message and sent to the caller.

Obviously if someone is currently stabbing you with a knife, there’s a limited amount of value that a text message can offer at that time. 999 remains the number for contacting the emergency services — it is a shame that you can’t ‘text’ 999 though.

I hope Dialogue follow-up with some news on how the service is being used soon.