Force follows lead of West Midlands Fire Service in testing the use of 999eye
Gwent Police has launched a two-month pilot of the use of a mobile phone app that enables the public to provide live streams or upload photos of emergency incidents for its control room operators.
It said it is the first police force to use the 999eye app, originally developed by Capita PageOne and West Midlands Fire Service, with the aim of providing its control room with an accurate picture of an unfolding emergency.
The force has begun to publicise the app in its local community, telling people they can use it to call 999 or 101 to provide streams and images.
The first phase of the pilot focuses on emergency 999 calls, with operators having the potential to use the tool to obtain the additional information from an incident. Phase two will include both 999 and 101 calls and will begin at the end of November.
The app makes it possible for an operator to send a text message, with the caller’s permission, containing a secure link. When this is clicked it establishes the street and photo upload function, making it possible to send either directly to the control room.
It also captures GPS coordinates, the link sent by the operator can be used only once, and no footage is stored on the caller’s phone.
Superintendent Ian Roberts, head of Gwent Police force control room said: “It’s fantastic that Gwent Police is leading the way in piloting such an advanced piece of technology.
“In addition to transforming the way 999 calls are dealt with, 999eye will also provide crucial evidence to support ongoing investigations, bringing significant benefits to officers, 999 callers and members of the public.”
Image from Gwent Police
