The Ministry of Interior has launched a mobile phone application that allows users direct contact with the police for reporting crimes, whether as a victim or a witness.
“Alertcops” has been undergoing testing in Málaga, and will spread through Alicante and Madrid, reaching the whole of Spain by 2015, having already been downloaded 17,000 times.
Capable of recording the geographic location of the mobile device, the app then sends the information to the police, thus speeding up the entire reporting process.
Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz explained that the aim of this new service is to “provide a fast and efficient service through a modern and easily accessible tool”, thus improving public safety. He also stressed the importance of this new application that, in his opinion, opens a “communication channel in accordance with the demands of today´s society, laying the foundation for a social safety net”.
The application is available for both the Android and iOS operating systems, and can be downloaded for free. Once downloaded, you only need to register and create a new user and providing your personal information to complete the registration process, confirming your details through a validation code in a text message.
Once downloaded, the user needs to register an account, keeping in mind that the application is not a toy and will alert the authorities if you report anything, but when you do, the status of your report can be monitored throughout the situation.
The application has elements to assist those people who suffer from hearing impairment and allows foreigners visiting or residing in Spain to use the app in English as well as Spanish, with French, German, Italian and Portuguese being added soon.
“Alertcops” is part of the SIMASC (System of Mobile Alerts for Citizen Security) technology platform, which aims to provide universal access to public services and security throughout society.
Of course the free application may add to the confusion in Torrevieja, who are getting a video conference link with the police installed on Monday instead of a fully staffed National Police station, as this application would be carried in everybody´s pocket, with no need to attend the static location in the city centre.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44540/
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