THREAD: You may have heard Priti Patel several nights ago at the daily briefing say that if you are unable to speak in an emergency to dial 999 and then press 55 and you’ll be directly connected to the Police.

This isn’t STRICTLY true

As a 999 operator by trade let me explain

Key pressing immediately at the start of the call will likely be taken as not in response to our expressions and seen as random key pressing - indeed it’s our procedure to take it that way.

The Home Secretary would have been more accurate if she said:

If you are in an emergency and unable to speak, dial 999, then listen to the 999 operator. We will prompt you that “If you’re unable to speak but need an emergency service, tap the handset, cough, or make a noise.”

If at this point you press a key it will be taken as a direct response and the call connected to the police. It can be any key at this stage.

If you haven’t responded at this point but we have heard other background voices through the call you may be put onto an automated

service which will then prompt you to Press 55 if you are in an emergency (which is where the 55 came from in the Home Secs briefing.)

Simply coming straight on and pressing 55 at the start of the call is more than likely going to result in your key presses being deemed random and the call a non-emergency, (which if it’s a genuine emergency would be a disaster)

so it’s important you are listening to the operators prompts, and reacting accordingly.

Share far and wide and lets get the Silent Solution working as it should :)

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#StaySafe