Emergency text service for Deaf people and Speech impaired people

What is the Service?

80999 is an SMS service for Deaf people and Speech impaired people.

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.

Text 80999 when:

• There is a danger to life or risk of injury being caused, such as a serious road accident or assault.
• A crime is in progress such as robbery, burglary, criminal damage, theft and the offender is still at the scene or has just left the area.
• The immediate attendance of a police officer is necessary – such as someone acting suspiciously or about to commit a crime.

How does the Service work?

Text messages are received directly in to the police control room at Hampshire and they then notify the relevant force. The controller then calls for assistance as required from any of the emergency services, including police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, mountain and cave rescue.

IMPORTANT

Also try other ways to contact the emergency services. Text messages are not 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.

To download the 80999 Leaflet click here

To view the 80999 press release click here