August 16, 2005
London police launch terror text service
Worried commuters can sign up for mobile phone alerts on the terrorist threat to London in a pioneering police initiative, writes This is London.
The "terror text" will also provide updates on the inquiry into the July 7 and July 21 attacks.
"In the aftermath of July 7 and July 21 we have had to look at how we can reassure Londoners," said Tarique Ghaffur at Scotland Yard. "This service enables us to send information by SMS, voice message or email about this enquiry."
It is hoped that the public will also use the new service to report incidents and to respond to appeals for information.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Kennett said the system would eventually allow police to target information to areas directly affected by a particular crime.
By asking users to register details of their postcode, officers will direct appeals to those most likely to have been witnesses. It may eventually mean sending SMS to those closest to the scene of a road accident, or leaving answering machine messages on the landline of homes closed up in roadblocks or armed alert.
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