The London Fire Brigade is planning to deploy a new emergency response and mobilising system with a translation function to pick up different languages during calls.
The London Fire Commission has signed NEC Software Solutions to provide the technology under a £20 million contract that came into force in February and is set to run until July 2027.
The system is expected to be ready for use next year.
Its translation function is expected to make it easier for people who do not speak English as their first language to speak with control room staff.
It will also be possible for the public to contact the service through WhatsApp and other social media platform.
The system will use real time data analytics to pinpoint where calls are coming from and immediately flag them as linked to an incident, which is expected to help the control room coordinate responding units and avoid sending multiple crews to one location. In larger emergencies it can also suggest how to move teams across the city.
Best tools possible
Patrick Goulborune, assistant commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, said: “Having the right technology means we can be there for Londoners when they need us most.
“Our crews work under immense pressure, and it's vital we give them the best tools possible to help protect our capital city and its people. This new technology shows our commitment to improving and modernising our service so we can respond to incidents as quickly and efficiently as possible."
NEC said it will work with Mitel on integrating the new communication channels into the control room system.
