Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker
I'll make a 'for instance'. If a girl is being followed, she puts herself at risk by making a call, as putting the phone to her ear makes her less aware of the movements/actions of person behind her. Being able to discreetly send a text message (as most of my generation are well trained in from classroom disobedience) would solve the problem.
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But how many people in that situation would remember to give all the relevant details in the first text? They then have to wait for a reply to see if the Police got it or if the text system is having a go slow.
When you phone the Police you get trained staff who will ask questions to get the right information out of you instantly. They will also advise you what to do if you think you are being followed. the fact that someone following you hears you are speaking to the Police might actually deter them from doing anything. The silent text and slow text chat between the girl and the Police would not have that effect. I think she would also get the reassurance to know that she was talking to someone who could stay on the line while the Police arrive in the same way they do when you phone an Ambulance advising you how to look after the injured person.
I am not saying text is a complete waste of time. I think having a national emergency number and a separate national non emergency number like 101 is the best way. They should have stuck with it and promoted it more. Teach it to kids in school and make it a free to call from all phones like 999 is. I had never even heard of 101 until this thread.