To ask whether you've ever made a silent 999 call?

[HavelockVetinari]

And if so, what was the outcome?

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched a campaign to educate the public about what to do in an emergency when you can't speak - dialling 999 silently isn't enough.

The operator will ask you to tap or cough if you need help, but if you don't do either you'll be transferred to Silent Solution after 30 seconds which will ask you to dial 55 if you require help. If you do not dial 55 the call will terminate and no help will be sent.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47847735

I saw that thousands of these silent calls are made. It's fair enough that they need to know when someone's toddler has got hold of the phone, but if you had passed out in the meantime it would be awful to think that no one would come. I guess the hope is that you could hang on long enough for the 55?

This tells you how to register so that you can send a 999 text instead of having to speak.

@Barbie222 you wouldn't need to. You can start tapping the phone with your nail immediately if you can't talk. They will most certainly determine this to be a call for help. The 55 would be especially useful if you were trying to stay silent.

I personally think it’s a bad idea, yes it might stop a toddler calling but it won’t stop pranks and those in danger may not be able to dial through. Something like ‘press 1’ immediately after 999 for a genuine call similar to the ‘prove you’re not a robot’ crap online might work quicker

I made a silent 999 call a few years ago (DV). I got a text imeadiately from the police force from the area I was in (I was away for the weekend) asking if I required help. I couldn't answer and when the police arrived later that evening, despite the fact I'd crawled to the hotel reception after taking a beating, I was arrested and spent the night in a police cell because my sociopathic ex made sure his call to 999 wasn't silent!!

When I returned home the next day I had a note through my door from my home police force asking me to contact them. When I did they wanted to make sure everything was OK.

@ProxyMum That’s awful

Gosh that's awful @ProxyMum I'm sorry that happened to you, I hope the fucker rots in Hell.

I'd urge everyone to register with the 999 text service - send a text saying 'register' to 999 and follow the instructions.

You don't text 999 to register!

HollowTalk the link you posted upthread says that's exactly what you do - text REGISTER to 999.

I hope I never need to use it but I have just registered for the emergency SMS service.

I texted register and yes to 999 an I'm now registered