Summarised by Centrist

Recent police documents obtained under the Official Information Act unveil serious concerns regarding the ageing 111 emergency call system. The system’s limitations, including its inability to handle text, video, or social media communications, have been attributed to tragic incidents, such as delayed emergency responses leading to fatalities. 

In one case, a woman’s attempt to seek help through a 111 call resulted in her fatal stabbing by her partner who overheard the call. A modern 111 system must be capable of discreetly notifying authorities. 

Other incidents include a man drowning while emergency services were delayed, and firefighters responding to a call unaware of the presence of a shooter.

Despite calls for system replacement, the previous Labour government opted to drop the project, citing fiscal constraints. 

While efforts to improve certain components of the 25 year old system are underway, concerns persist regarding its reliability and integration across emergency services.

Read more over at RNZ

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