Raising awareness of the #SilentSolution System. This is a national campaign launched earlier this month to raise awareness of a system to help people alert police when in imminent danger but unable to speak. It has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
The Silent Solution system enables a 999 mobile caller who is too scared to make a noise, or speak, to press 55 when prompted – to inform police they are in a genuine emergency.
The system is well-established in the UK but is only effective if the public know and understand how it works and that is why there is this awareness campaign. It could, in extreme situations, potentially save a life.
If you need police help, if it is possible to speak please do. If not, this is how you can make yourself heard.
MAKE YOURSELF HEARD
In danger, need police, but can’t speak?
1. Dial 999
2. Listen to the questions from the 999 operator
3. Respond by coughing or tapping the handset if you can
4. If prompted, press 55. This lets the 999 operator know it’s a genuine emergency and you’ll be put through to the police
Note: It is not true that police will automatically attend if you make a silent 999 call. Callers need to listen and respond to questions and instructions, including by coughing or tapping the handset if possible, or if using a mobile phone, once prompted by the automated Silent Solution system, pressing 55.
The system filters out thousands of accidental or hoax silent 999 calls made daily. Around 50 emergency calls from mobiles a day are transferred by a BT operator to police forces in the UK as a result of someone having pressed 55 when prompted, enabling the police to carry out urgent enquiries to respond.
