Emergency Video System to Let Callers Livestream Incidents to Operators

The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF), and the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), along with ST Engineering, have developed the Emergency Video System that will allow callers to livestream incidents via their mobile phones.

The new system will be operated at the Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force Operations Centre, where operators can "initiate live video streaming from [callers] to aid in situational assessment and decision-making," according to a press release by the SPF on March 20.

The system can be utilised for calls through emergency helplines "999" or "995." If an operations centre decides that a livestream would be beneficial in an incident, it can initiate the video system and the caller, from a safe location, will consent to activate it.

No applications need to be downloaded, as an SMS with a hyperlink will be sent to the caller upon activation. The link will open to the caller's mobile phone web browser, which he or she can use to livestream the incident, while the system will share their location to the operators in real time.

As per the release, the caller must remain on the "999" or "995" call while livestreaming an incident so operators can continue communicating with them.

The Emergency Video System will be able to supplement authorities' methods for triaging and sense-making before responding officers can arrive. Moreover, it shall help frontliners to prepare and make informed decisions while in transit. The system can also be used during emergencies that involve both the SPF and SCDF, such as major fires, by allowing the livestream to be shared between the two agencies.