Ministers launch text mobile location rescue service

The emergency services have launched a service that will enable some mobile phones to send the exact location of those calling 999 to emergency services.

The service has been heralded as a significant development that will improve response times to emergencies in rural locations, and potentially save lives.

In most cases, the advanced mobile location service will give the emergency services a person’s location within 50m of where they are making the call, with pilot testing finding the estimated average accuracy is within 25m.