A new nifty feature allows an emergency caller to livestream an incident while being connected to operators.

The Emergency Video System can be initiated by Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers from the caller’s phone when they dial emergency helplines “999” and “995” to help with “situational assessment and decision-making.”

“The Emergency Video System capability leverages readily on available technology on mobile phones, allowing ‘999’ or ‘995’ callers to provide real-time location and visual information of the incident to the SPF and SCDF operation centres,” SPF and SCDF said in a joint statement.

It is developed by the SPF , SCDF, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency and ST Engineering.

An SMS with a hyperlink will be sent when the caller gives the operator consent to activate the live video stream and only when it is deemed safe to do so.

The caller’s location will also be sent to the operators to help with the emergency.

Livestreaming will be useful in incidents where it involves fires, road traffic accidents, rescue incidents, crime scenes and situations where the caller is unsure how to describe the victim’s condition, SPF and SCDF told Channel News Asia today. The feature can also be used if the caller is at unclear locations.

The footage captured could be used in court if requested, the authorities added.

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