Emergency services throughout the South West of England have enhanced their partnership working with the launch of an emergency text number for Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and speech impaired people.

The 80999 text number has been used in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2004, where text messages are received directly in to the police control room. The controller then calls for assistance as required from any of the emergency services, including police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, mountain and cave rescue.

There are now four more regions joining Hampshire Constabulary, expanding this invaluable service to those who are deaf or speech impaired right across the South West, encompassing the areas of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall.

What is an Emergency?

When...

• Life is at risk;
• Crime/trouble is happening now;
• Someone is injured or threatened;
• Person committing crime is near;
• There is a fire or people trapped;
• You need an ambulance urgently;
• Someone is in trouble at sea.

When texting the emergency controller, REMEMBER:

• What? What is the problem?
• Which? Need police/fire rescue/ambulance/coastguard
• Where? Give name of road and town. Plus more information like: house number; postcode; or outside post office; or near bus stations.

IMPORTANT: Also try other ways to contact the emergency services

No text messages are guaranteed to arrive quickly. We rely on the mobile phone companies and the network. Hampshire Constabulary cannot be held responsible for delays in receiving messages. You will know your message has been received ONLY when you get a reply. Until you get a reply, try other ways to contact the emergency services.

Emergency Text Access

For emergencies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

Mobile Text/SMS: 80999

Typetalk emergency text relay: 18000

The 80999 emergency text service is operated by Hampshire Constabulary in association with your local emergency services.