Greater Manchester Police pilots text service

The messaging scheme in was initially rolled out to younger residents, but due to its success GMP now plans to enrol the whole community, reports The Guardian . The messages are relayed to police in Gorton and aim to get the public to engage with police using the everyday language of text. Around 700 residents have already signed up to the service, which is being monitored by the National Policing Improvement Agency. Residents are encouraged to text on issues ranging from bad treatment by private landlords to poor street lighting. Gorton police then divert the matter to the relevant agency, while monitoring the progress of the complaint. Inspector Damian O'Reilly, who runs the policing team in Gorton, said that the scheme gives people, particularly youngsters, the chance "to speak to us in their own language". O'Reilly said that one of the benefits of using text messages to communicate is that it is viewed as "safe and private" and people feel that there is less risk of being labelled a "grass", as they are not physically talking to officers. The project is the brainchild of Andrew Wilson, director of Thumbprint, a workers' co-operative that designs new ways to use mobile technology for public participation. Of mobile phones, Wilson said: "They are no longer seen as technology," adding that, "they are part and parcel of everyday life and people feel comfortable with them."