By Sion Morgan
The Western Mail
LONDON — It was launched after a tragedy in which five women were killed in a fire.
And Sunday marks 75 years since the world’s oldest emergency call service was launched.
The 999 number is dialled 33,000 times a week in Wales and an average of 597,000 calls every week are handled by BT’s emergency service teams around Britain.
Among those are centres in Newport and Bangor, which will celebrate the “diamond anniversary” with a number of planned events tomorrow.
But few know the tragic story from which the famous British service was born.
It was during the aftermath of a disaster on November 10, 1935, which took the lives of five women, that a three digit emergency code was first suggested.
During the vicious fire at a doctor’s surgery on London’s Wimpole Street, neighbours had tried to telephone the fire brigade but were outraged after being held in a queue by the Welbeck telephone exchange.
One furious resident contacted the editor of The Times, which prompted a government inquiry.
Until then dialling 0 and asking the operator for police, fire or ambulance was the recommended method and had been since 1927.
The General Post Office, which ran the telephone network, proposed a three-digit number that could easily be dialled in the dark or through thick smoke.
The number would trigger a special signal and flashing light at the exchange and operators could then divert their attention to these priority calls.
In order to find the new emergency number in the dark or thick smoke it was suggested an “end number” was used so it could be found easily by touch.
But 111 was rejected because it could be triggered by faulty equipment or lines rubbing together, and 222 would have connected to the Abbey local telephone exchange.
Another suggestion, 000, could not be used as the first 0 would have dialled the operator.
The system came into place on July 1, 1937 covering a 12-mile radius around London’s Oxford Circus. Several people have claimed to have made the first 999 call on July 2 or 3. One early emergency call, on July 8, 1937 from Mrs Beard of Hampstead, reported a burglar her husband was chasing who was promptly caught.
During the first week there were 1,336 calls to the number.
In 1938 the system was introduced to Glasgow but the Second World War delayed further expansion.
The programme later continued and was introduced in Newport, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester in 1946. By 1967 more than a million calls were being made for all emergency services across the UK.
Last year, 31 million calls were handled by BT across the UK, 62% from mobile handsets, with 50% connected to the emergency services (52% to police, 41% ambulance, 6% fire and less than 1% to the coastguard).
Ann Beynon, BT director for Wales, said: “Today, the 999 service is known for its reliability and professionalism.
It’s not only the world’s oldest emergency call service, having clocked up 75 years of experience in providing the UK with a communications lifeline in times of need, it’s also one of the world’s most respected and admired services.”
Hundreds of thousands praise the emergency services each year for their lifesaving efforts, but none would be possible without 999 operators like the 126 who work from Newport. Last year the centre handled nearly 3.5 million calls to 999.
Ms Beynon added: “Many people in Wales owe their lives to smooth and effective emergency call handling by BT operators, using the latest technologies to ensure that emergency calls are dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
“When lives are at stake it’s vital that no time is lost.”
In 1956, it was said of Information Room staff: “They must possess exceptional qualities of tact and forbearance and be prepared to accept responsibilities beyond the norm.”
BT says it is continuing to invest in the service - pounds 10m is currently being spent on renewing call-handling equipment.
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Jim Read said: “The 999 system has now become a cornerstone of British policing and for emergency service partners, allowing agencies to protect life and keep people safe.
“Being there 24/7 and ensuring that officers are dispatched quickly to emergency and priority incidents is a critical function for the police.
“The progress since 1937 has been enormous — and we will keep striving to improve the service over the next 75 years.”
The first call was made in Hampstead days after the service launched and led to burglar Thomas Duffy, 24, being caught red handed.
Emergency callers can be connected to four services — police, ambulance, fire, and coastguard, with calls to cave or mountain rescue directed through the police.
There are around 85,000 calls each day, with higher volumes over the weekend.
Experts chose 999 rather than 111 for technical reasons. Wires moving together in the wind can be transmitted as the equivalent of a 111 call.
The first mobile call to 999 was in 1986.
112 was introduced to the UK in 1993. The European number works alongside 999 in line with a European Directive.
Some of the highest call volumes occur around midnight — around 5,000 calls per hour on Friday and Saturday nights. In early hours of New Year’s Day it can reach up to 13,500 calls per hour.
999 TIMELINE
1882 The Exchange Telegraph Company introduces fire alarm call points in London. A lever is pulled in a dedicated street post to alert the fire service. The idea is extended by other telegraph companies and in other towns. 1930S Police call points are introduced along similar lines to fire alarm call points but using telephone rather than telegraph technology.
1935 In November a serious fire at the London surgery of aural surgeon Dr Philip Franklin at 27 Wimpole Street caused the death of five women. The inquest heard that the Fire Brigade arrived at the scene before the operator had answered a neighbour’s call to alert them to the fire.
1937 The 999 service was introduced to 91 automatic telephone exchanges in London.
1938 The 999 service was introduced in Glasgow. 1946 The service is introduced in Newport, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. 1948 By March 1948 all the larger towns served by automatic exchanges had the 999 service. 1976 All telephone exchanges in Britain are automated, making the 999 service truly nationwide. 1986 999 service is introduced for mobile phone users.
1993 In January 1993 the additional emergency code 112 is introduced.
2003 BT moves to routing all calls from fixed line by their postcode, which allows closer match with emergency services. 2004 BT extends the 999 location service to allow approximate locations for mobile phones.
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