Special needs people can now text police

Abu Dhabi:  A new service being launched by the Abu Dhabi Police Department tomorrow will help rush assistance to special needs people in distress as soon as it receives an SMS alert.

Lieutenant Colonel Nasser Sulaiman Al Maskary, Head of the Abu Dhabi Police Central Operations Division, said that the police department had set up the system in coordination with the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs and Minors Affairs.

The police department had also linked up with the IT and Communications Section and the Abu Dhabi Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Department to initiate an appropriate response upon receiving text messages or phone calls from special needs people, he added.

Al Maskary reiterated that the project reflected the police command’s desire to provide a direct and speedy response during crisis situations involving special needs people.

Enabling database

The Abu Dhabi Police Operation Room service mechanism is enabled through a programme especially created for receiving SMS messages that is linked to the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs and Minors Affairs database bearing vital information about special needs people registered with the organisation.

Lt Col Al Maskary added that the minute an SMS is received, it will be analysed and categorised depending on whether it relates to a traffic accident or some other kind of emergency.

After the SMS is received, a designated police unit will be mobilised, with the essential back-up service, such as an ambulance, lady police officers or other back-up teams, he added. Priority will be accorded to the immediate needs of special needs people and communicating their situation to their families, he added.

Al Maskary called upon all special needs people to get in touch with the relevant authorities to be in a position to avail the new service and to be precise in reporting accidents, type of injury and other information when using the service.

Operations room

Captain Faris Salim Al Amiri, Director of the Visual Surveillance Section, said that all those working in the operation room would always be ready to receive reports, calls and SMS messages on a 24x7 basis and to coordinate with the specialised units to initiate appropriate measures in real time.

Quick assistance

A new SMS response system being launched by Abu Dhabi Police for special needs people in distress will analyse the nature of the emergency for an apt response.