The Met is set to trial a technology which would enable the force’s 999 call centre to receive live video of an incident direct from the caller’s mobile phone, allowing call handlers to better assess the level of response needed.
Callers would receive a text message containing a link which they can click to approve the use of their phone’s camera. All video footage would be automatically discarded after 30 days unless needed for evidence.
The system, which was developed by GoodSAM and works on Android, Windows and Apple mobile phones, also sends precise location data.
The software is already used by ambulance dispatchers as well as some fire brigades and police forces and a proof of concept trial with the Met will take place between November and December this year.
Initial trials will be limited to policing staff who will stream video to a testing computer set up to mimic the call centre process, but tests will then be expanded to include callers to the force’s live call centre.
The tests will assess the number of calls qualifying for video recording, as well as the take-up by callers and the impact on call handling times before any decision to adopt the technology permanently is made.
