New system to cut down emergency response times for cops
The city police have received permission from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to send bulk SMS messages in emergencies. The police aim to use bulk SMS to reduce response times and improve communication during critical situations. The system will automatically send SMS alerts to the police inspector responsible for the area where an incident occurs.
This system will also automatically respond to emergency calls made through the Emergency Call Button (ECB), messages sent through the “One App,” and phone calls made to the Police Control Room (PCR). “While this system would keep officers on their toes, it would leave them no excuse for not receiving information about any emergency situation or crime alert,” said police officials. It will also help other emergency services reach the scene faster, potentially saving lives.Following a recent incident in Nehrunagar where a vegetable trader was killed and the police response was allegedly slow, this system is expected to significantly improve response times. Senior police officials believe it will not only help police respond fast- er but also assist in catching criminals. “The system will give the cops more time to barricade the area,” they said.
Trial runs begin
Trial runs for the SMS gateways have already begun. These gateways will enable communication with resi-dents, ensuring important information is shared quickly during emergencies and natural disasters. “SMS messages can reach a wide audience, including those without smartphones or internet access,” police officials explained.
‘AMDPOL’ for alerts
“The approval of the header (Ahmedabad City Police uses ‘AMDPOL’ for alerts and notifica- tions) has been granted. We have already started trials in which SMS messages are being sent to police officials. If the inspector of the particular area fails to respond to the SMS alert, it will automatically be sent to higher- ups,” said Additional Director General of Police (Add. DGP) and Special Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Ajay Choudhari.
Emotion analysis
Add. DGP Choudhari also said the system will use the caller’s voice and tone to analyse their emotions and assess the severity of the emergency.