Deaf and Hard of Hearing Information

In an emergency

In an emergency situation, you need help fast.
 
The Relay UK service lets deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired people in the UK alert police, ambulance, fire, or coastguard services by either calling via a relay assistant or texting a message to 999 using the emergencySMS service.

Emergency SMS

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.

1. Register your mobile
   
   Text the word 'register' to 999.
   
   You'll need to register again if you change your phone number.
    
2. Read the message
   
   You’ll get an automatic text reply. Please read it all. 
    
3. Reply to the message
   
   Read the message and then reply by texting ‘yes’.
    
4. 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…
    
5. 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

Additional Emergency Services Contact Methods - Relay UK

Relay UK App

1. 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.
2. Click 'Join' in the app window.
3. You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
4. Tell them which service you need then follow their responses in the app’s conversation window.
5. 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.

Textphone

1. Call 18000.
2. You’ll see ‘Emergency, which service? GA’ on your screen.
3. You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
4. Tell them which service you need then follow their responses on the textphone screen.
5. The 999 operator will then connect you to the right emergency service. 

More help

Further resources and information on deaf awareness and support that is offered can be found here www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk.

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.

Archived Information

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 :

08.30am broadcast

12.30pm broadcast

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.