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

 

In non-emergencies

 

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.

  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

SMS Contact Information

 

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.

 

Relay UK using a 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. 

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. 

  1. Download the 999 BSL App from your chosen App store
  2. Open the 999 BSL App
  3. Press the red button to call
  4. Connect to a BSL interpreter

Watch the 999 BSL How To Guide here.
 

YouTube Video - More about 999 BSL


 

More help

 


 

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 :

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.

Page last reviewed November 2023 - additional content updates planned in the next 4-6 weeks.