Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech Impaired Contact Information
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired there are various methods you can use to get in contact with the emergency services.
In an emergency
- emergencySMS
The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police (or ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard as required).
To use the EmergencySMS service you MUST pre-register.
Scroll down for more information about the Emergency SMS system.
- Relay UK App - tap the 999 button in the App
On the Relay UK app, tap the 999 button and then confirm to make an emergency call.
Scroll down for more information about the Relay UK app.
- Textphone - dial 18000 on your Textphone
On your Textphone, dial 18000 and follow the on screen instructions to make an emergency call.
Scroll down for more information about Textphone via Relay UK.
- 999 BSL
There are two ways to reach the emergency authorities through the 999 BSL service - they are:
1) iOS and Android App (smartphone and tablet)
2) Web-based via https://999bsl.co.uk/
Scroll down for more information about 999 BSL.
In non-emergencies
- Use our Live Chat system
Our Live Chat system is an online text based / typed service where you can make contact with our Contact Management Unit online through a simple to use online system.
- Relay UK App - dial 18001 101 in the App
On the Relay UK app, dial 18001 101 in a non emergency using a Relay Assistant through Relay UK.
Scroll down for more information about the Relay UK app.
- Textphone - dial 18001 101 on your Textphone
On your Textphone, dial 18001 101 in a non emergency using a Relay Assistant through Relay UK.
Scroll down for more information about Textphone via Relay UK.
The following section provides more information on the different contact methods mentioned on this page
emergencySMS
The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard.
Simply by sending an SMS message to 999 you can call for help and the emergency services will be able to reply to you.
You will need to register your mobile phone before using the emergencySMS service,
Registering with emergencySMS
You MUST REGISTER YOUR PHONE before you can use it. See how to set up emergencySMS.
- Register your mobile
Text the word 'register' to 999.
You'll need to register again if you change your phone number.
- Read the message
You’ll get an automatic text reply. Please read it all.
- Reply to the message
Read the message and then reply by texting ‘yes’.
- Get a 'success' text
You'll then get a text telling you that your mobile is now registered - or if there's been a problem…
- Check it
Text 'register' to 999 and you'll get a message telling you if it's registered or not. Don't text anything else - there's no need to make a test call. You're now set up.
Can't register?
If you try to register but don't get the 'success' text, check with your mobile provider to make sure they support the emergencySMS service.
Emergency SMS Leaflet
Relay UK
Relay UK App
- On the Relay UK app, simply tap the 999 button and then confirm to make an emergency call - or if you're using NGT Lite, call 18000 on your phone's dialler.
- Click 'Join' in the app window.
- You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
- Tell them which service you need then follow their responses in the app’s conversation window.
- The 999 operator will then connect you to the right emergency service.
If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.
Relay UK using a TextPhone
- Call 18000.
- You’ll see ‘Emergency, which service? GA’ on your screen.
- You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
- Tell them which service you need then follow their responses on the textphone screen.
- The 999 operator will then connect you to the right emergency service.
Read more about contacting emergency services using a Textphone through Relay UK here.
999 BSL
999 BSL is the name of the UK’s first ever Emergency Video Relay Service in British Sign Language (BSL). The service is available to download as a smartphone app (iOS and Android) and access as a web-based platform.
- Download the 999 BSL App from your chosen App store
- Open the 999 BSL App
- Press the red button to call
- Connect to a BSL interpreter
- Or use via browser based web interface via https://999bsl.co.uk/
Watch the 999 BSL How To Guide here.
YouTube Video - More about 999 BSL
More help
- Further resources and information on deaf awareness and support that is offered can be found here www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk.
- Read more about Relay UK App here https://www.relayuk.bt.com/relay-uk-services/relay-uk-app.html
- Read more about contacting emergency services via Textphone (and Relay UK) here https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/use-relay-uk-with-textphone.html
- Read more about emergencySMS here https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html
- Read more about the 999BSL Service here https://999bsl.co.uk/
Archived Information
Deaf Awareness Week 2021
As part of Deaf Awareness Week 2021 (3rd - 9th May), Senior Contact Manager Tom Donohoe talks about the week and how we as a Force support the public.
National Deaf Awareness Week 2018 - Facebook Live Broadcasts
As part of National Deaf Awareness Week 2018, officers from the Wakefield Central and North West Neighbourhood Policing Team, along with partners, attended The Ridings Shopping Centre in Wakefield, to support deaf communities and offer advice to the deaf on how to contact the Police. The event and the broadcasts were also signed to assist those viewing the videos who use British Sign Language.
View the two Facebook Live Broadcasts here :
As part of International Week of the Deaf 2017 (19-25 September) - the following video features Force Deaf Community Champion and Staff Member Chloe Lockey explaining about her role within the Force. Read more about Force Deaf Community Champions here.
Page last reviewed November 2023 - additional content updates planned in the next 4-6 weeks.