Victorians could text, stream video to triple-0 in system overhaul

TEXTING for emergency assistance and streaming video of an incident are on the table in a revamp of the triple-0 system likely to be implemented within five years.

VICTORIANS could be able to text for emergency assistance and stream live video of an incident in a hi-tech overhaul of the triple-0 system.

“Data packets” pinpointing a person’s location within 5m could also be automatically sent from their phone as dispatch staff review photos of injuries or emergency scenes to assist paramedics, fire crews and police.

The revamp — which could also allow people to raise the alarm using social media or email — is likely to be implemented within five years.

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The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, which handles more than 1.8 million triple-0 calls a year, has issued an expression of interest for a new “world-class, ­future-looking” dispatch system.

Chief executive officer Marty Smyth told the Sunday Herald Sun the revamp would be the most significant since triple-0 was introduced in 1961.

The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority has flagged a hi-tech revamp of the triple-0 system.

“It would be day and night,’’ Mr Smyth said. “This is what we call next-generation triple-0. It’s the way the world is moving.”

Texting triple-0 would allow callers to covertly alert authorities in high-risk situations including, for example,­ ­hiding from an active shooter during a terror event or witnessing an attack on a train.

Live video and photos could help emergency services decide what ­resources were needed, assess the ­nature and extent of injuries and identify criminal suspects.

It’s understood such innovations — to be accessible on almost any ­device including smart watches — could provide extra safeguards during outages, depending on their ­nature.

“I would expect within the next five years we will be heading down this track,’’ Mr Smyth said.

“It’s the way of the future and the expectation of the public.

“We still have a whole generation of people who are going to be ringing triple-0 in the future.

“But where we want to head is giving them alternatives.

“You are moving into a realm where you can access emergency services using different multichannels.”

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino. Picture: AAP

A federal government review of triple-0 in 2015 recommended prioritising improved ways to obtain the ­location co-ordinates of callers.

So-called advanced mobile ­location technology — where global positioning data from a caller’s phone is automatically sent to authorities — is already in use in the UK and New Zealand.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said: “As technology and society evolves, our emergency systems must keep pace. These ideas are reflective of that.”

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