 |  | Early success in the text message scheme, which allows people who aren't usually able to use a telephone contact the emergency services quickly, it is being extended to include people who work in the West Midlands as well as those who live here.
Since being launched in July 2002, almost 200 people have registered to use the text messaging service and three emergency messages have been made to the Force Communications Centre. Two required the help of the ambulance service and the third was reporting a fire.
|  | Text messaging is a popular form of communication for the hearing impaired |
The scheme allows people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired to contact the police in an emergency by texting them with information and was previously only available to those who lived within the force boundary.
People interested in using the scheme have to register in advance and ONLY calls from registered users are accepted.
Text messages received which relate to the fire or ambulance service are immediately passed to the appropriate organisation by telephone.
The innovative scheme has proved so successful with deaf organisations throughout the country, the force has been inundated with calls from other force areas, keen to explore the system.
Inspector Robert Box, from the Force Communications Centre, said: "We have been pleased at the level of interest show in the scheme, and so far have had no glitches in the system.
"As a result of the interest shown from people outside the West Midlands, we have decided to extend the scheme to people who work in the region who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired."
Due to short delays between sending and receiving text messages, members of the public should always try to find an alternative method of contacting police in an emergency and should only use text messaging as a last resort.
For more on crime initiatives, like a text message scheme for the hearing impaired, and more on Cracking Crime Day, follow the links on the left.
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