Liberal Democrats Back Call to Introduce 999 'Texting' Service

10.31.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 24th Aug 2008

Adrian Sanders MP and Peter Wilcock believe that introducing a 999 'texting' service could save lives.

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Peter Wilcock is backing MP Adrian Sanders' Parliamentary campaign to introduce a 999 text service.

The Liberal Democrat MP has tabled a motion in Parliament to raise the issue of people unable to speak when in danger, but able to use their phone to send a text message to the emergency services.

Said Peter Wilcock, 'Many people are unable to talk when they need to call an emergency service. People with respiratory conditions, hearing impairments or other speech debilitating conditions may not be able to use the phone, but could text for help.

There are also people in dangerous or threatening situations where they cannot speak out but could text for assistance. Lives could be saved if such a facility could be arranged which is why I am backing this campaign calling on the Government to encourage the mobile phone industry to come up with a text message 999 service, and call on Saffron Walden's MP Alan Haselhurst to sign Early Day Motion 1964 to demonstrate his support for this issue.'