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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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Please register for the emergency services SMS service - it could save your life

48 replies

WellThisIsShit · 26/01/2019 10:22

Please please, if you are in a volatile or abusive relationship, being able to text the police in an emergency could save your life, or your children’s lives... however it only works if you’ve pre-registered your mobile number.

We see it on the Relationship threads all the time. Someone ends up in a desperate situation where they are very shaken up and scared after their partner has hurt them or threatened them, and they are scared for their safety. It’s usually late at night and the poster is usually too scared to make a noise though can write messages /text from their phone, maybe from the bathroom.

That’s when they tend to get advice from well meaning posters telling them they can SMS 999 from their phone and the police will come... except it doesn’t work unless you have registered your phone number!!!

Which is utterly terrifying, imagine being desperate enough to need to text the police (or ambulance) silently as you cannot speak, ... and no help arrives.

So please please text 999 now with the word ‘register’. You get an automated text back with t&c’s and a bit more info. After you’ve read that you text back YES and when you’ve had a confirmation text, you’re all signed up and done. That’s it.

It is easy and quick to register. And then you are able to text the emergency services if you ever need to on that phone number.

Do it even if you don’t tho k you need to, because no one knows what could happen in the future, and when it could come in handy, for literally 20 seconds of your time now.

This is a thread prompted by another thread/s, but it’s in a positive way I hope, and not about that other thread, if you see what I mean?

OP posts:
OP posts:
Binglebong · 26/01/2019 10:40

Bump.

Worth asking MNhq to pin info on this or pyr it in an email?

ohfourfoxache · 26/01/2019 10:48

Thank you for a brilliant post, bumping

WellThisIsShit · 26/01/2019 11:44

Thanks, bit worried this will sink like a stone... how best to ask mumsnet to get the message across?

OP posts:
Binglebong · 26/01/2019 13:15

I think report your post. It does seem the kind of thing that should be on the front page .

PristineCondition · 26/01/2019 13:18

Why would you report Confused

PristineCondition · 26/01/2019 13:18

Oh sorry I misreadBlush
I thought you were report the op....

Blush
Unescorted · 26/01/2019 13:20

Thanks for highlighting.

WisdomOfCrowds · 26/01/2019 13:24

Thanks, I've just registered. Hope I never need to use it.

ohfourfoxache · 26/01/2019 15:08

Bump

Highfever · 26/01/2019 17:01

This is so important not only for people who may be experiencing domestic abuse but also terror related crimes or crimes where the perpetrator is near enough to hear you.

WaterOffaDucksCrack · 26/01/2019 22:12

Thank you

Phoenix76 · 26/01/2019 22:17

Bump

Grandadwasthatyou · 26/01/2019 22:26

I've just tried to do this but as soon as I type 999 into the new message box it comes up with a list of spam numbers and nowhere for me to write any text.
I will try and attach a photo.

Please register for the emergency services SMS service - it could save your life
TheDistantSky · 26/01/2019 22:31

Is this not only for deaf/ hard of hearing/ mute people?

TheDistantSky · 26/01/2019 22:33

Or am I just being a bit dense?

Please register for the emergency services SMS service - it could save your life
Bacardi101 · 26/01/2019 22:40

Thank you so much registered

LeSquigh · 26/01/2019 23:22

You can also press 5 instead of talking to the Operator. They will connect you to the Police who will identify your location and send help.

BBInGinDrinking · 26/01/2019 23:29

Great thread, OP, thank you. I don't think this service is well known. I hope that mumsnet picks it up, especially for the Relationships board. Flowers

Capricornandproud · 27/01/2019 00:29

Bump!!

FortyFacedFuckers · 27/01/2019 00:36

Thanks OP I have just registered

BBInGinDrinking · 27/01/2019 09:11

Bump

WellThisIsShit · 27/01/2019 09:29

Sorry real life got a bit busy yesterday.

TheDistantSky the way they’ve written the website puts the functionality for people who have a disability above the functionality for just normal SMS’s.

It threw me too when I registered, as it’s usually the other way round. Just keep scrolling down to get to the info about SMS’s.

OP posts:
WellThisIsShit · 27/01/2019 09:34

@TheDistantSky

So the first section is:
“999 using a relay system” which is for those with the relevant assistive technology for their disability need.

Then the second section is labelled
“999 using a text:emergency SMS”
That’s the one we’re looking at

I hope that helps? Give me a shout if not ...

OP posts:
WellThisIsShit · 27/01/2019 09:37

@Grandadwasthatyou

My phone also did this! I think it’s because it’s expecting a longer number and is attempting to look it up on your address book.

I got round it by writing the text content first
Ie ‘register’ and then going to the box at the top of the screen to type in the number 999.
No idea why, but it treats it like a normal text when you do it that way round, or at least it did on my phone!

OP posts: