Non-Emergency Text Calls To The Police Via Typetalk

If you are deaf or hard of hearing or have a speech impediment, you can now contact the police through Typetalk for non-emergency situations on 18001 101.  This not available through the mobile phone network.

Typetalk is the national relay service provided by the Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID) operators to support communication between people who are unable to communicate using voice calls.

How does it work?

• A person with a hearing or speech impediment can call 18001 101 using their specialised textphone.
• An Action on Hearing Loss operator will pick up the message and will connect the call to a Cable & Wireless operator, who will be told the call is coming from a textphone.
• The Cable & Wireless operator will connect to the police force control room 101 call handler, explaining that it is a textphone call.  They will then exit the call.
• The police call handler will then communicate the 101 call handler via the Action for Hearing Loss operator.