Sheffield-based Dialogue Communications Behind UK Police Initiative


DIALOGUE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND UK?S FIRST POLICE-BACKED ANTI-BULLYING AND RACISM INITIATIVE


Sheffield, UK -/24 Feb, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology News/-Dialogue Communications, the Sheffield-based world leading mobile messaging company, is providing the technology behind a UK initiative to help young people threatened by bullying or racial abuse.

Text2talk, a radical new service launched in Warwickshire by the local police in conjunction with other partner organisations, will allow youngsters to text to a special number and type in either ?bully? or ?racist?. They will then be contacted by a member organisation within five days to receive advice and support as necessary.

?Mobile technology ? and particularly texting ? has become a tremendously enjoyable and vital form of communication for young people all over the world and we were very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this programme,? said Mr Paul Griffiths, Dialogue?s UK Managing Director.

?Text 2 talk is an unusual and innovative use of our platform and was particularly well suited to the demands of quality with a full audit trail required by the police and their partners for this programme.?

Text2Talk has been launched by Warwickshire Police in partnership with Warwickshire County Council, Connexions, and the Positive About Young People group.

Text2talk is a new mechanism for young people to text in a confidential message to help them stand up to the bullies without using more traditional and face to face methods.

?Throughout the country, bullying causes distress and anxiety to many children. Victims often avoid reporting the problem because they feel uncomfortable about telling their teachers or family, or they fear reprisals,? said Text2Talk Project Manager Chimmy Ogbuebile.

?We asked young people how best to report these incidents and after getting the response of text messaging we were absolutely thrilled to find what a fantastic solution was available to us in terms of Dialogue?s technology and delivery platform.

Dialogue is a world leader in mobile messaging, mobile electronic payments processing and specialise in the development and rapid deployment of mobile applications that utilise text messaging and mobile multimedia. Its customers include MSN, BT, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and O2. The company has offices in the UK and Australia.


Notes:

How the system works: 1. The young person texts in 07786 200 999 to report bullying or racial harassment. 2. If the incident is bullying, then BULLY is texted in 3. If the incident is racial harassment, then RACIST is texted in. 4. If the person texting in the message wants help and support, then YES is texted in. 5. If the young person doesn't want any further contact with the partnership then, NO is texted in.

? The text message is received at Warwickshire Police headquarters where it is evaluated by a call handler in the Communications Centre. If the message is a YES message then a text dialogue with the young person will be established and the message will be passed on to the appropriate partner agency - to support and help the young person requesting help. txt2talk is a confidential service and any messages and requests for help will be dealt with very sensitively.

? If the message is a NO message, the young person will not be contacted.

? Every message will receive an automated response immediately and any call back requested is guaranteed within five working days but the aim is to get back to the young person within 24 hours where possible.

? Discreet contact will then be made with the young person, usually through the Connexions Youth Service, who will work in conjunction with the school, to support and help the victim. Perpetrators will also receive help to correct their unacceptable behaviour.