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Darwen and Rossendale MP calls for emergency mobile phone signal

10:00am Monday 4th January 2010 in


AN East Lancashire MP has called for an emergency mobile phone signal to be introduced after being stranded in a Rossendale blizzard.

Janet Anderson is urging the government to get onboard with a new initiative to help people contact emergency services when their mobile phone signal is down.

Though some networks offer an emergency 999 line in any location regardless of coverage, many phones are still by restricted by the available signal.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: “At a meeting between the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee and the Business Innovation and Skills Committee, evidence was given from two senior members of Ofcom who put forward an interesting idea for an emergency mobile roaming service.

“I recall the blizzards last winter when I was travelling from Bacup to Burnley for a friend's funeral.

"Cars were abandoned all over the place and a crash had occurred just ahead of me.

“The problem was that none of us could get a signal on our mobile phones to report the incident to the police.”

Senior staff at Ofcom, which regulates the UK’s broadcasting, telecommunications and wireless communications sectors, are proposing the idea of emergency roaming signals.

Chief Executive Ed Richards said: “There are now more 999 calls made from mobiles than fixed line phones so it is vital that we and the mobile operators develop a roaming service to ensure people in need have full access to safety of life services.

“Currently mobile calls to 999 and 112 emergency numbers can only be connected if the caller’s own network is available in the area."

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Anderson said: “The scheme is really important for us up in Rossendale, and if Ofcom can sort this out, then it would be great news.

”Even if a service provider does not have service in an area, the nearest network should become available automatically if it is an emergency.”

Comments(15)

Dogsbolloxs says...
10:36am Mon 4 Jan 10

Funny how this is suddenly a major problem after Janet got stuck! Call me cynical.

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Mikeee47 says...
10:47am Mon 4 Jan 10

Dogsbolloxs wrote:
Funny how this is suddenly a major problem after Janet got stuck! Call me cynical.
Totally agree if it were you or I stuck we would have had to deal with it.
Because it's an MP something needs doing,
These MPs need to start realising they WORK FOR US!!!!!
There is an emergency line iit's called 999. The emergency services can't get anywhere in snow & ice bound roads maybe the MP should be urging the LCC to grit the roads etc etc, lets look at the root problem

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Davidoff says...
11:07am Mon 4 Jan 10

I think the same as well. As to OFCOM. Thought they only acted if thousands complained about the same thing (another useless government set up organisation) and didn't act on individual cases. But hang on, it's an MP, so there you go.

In other words, Janet Anderson got an horrendous case of the collywobbles after getting stuck in the snow ... See how the rest of us suffer, feel now Janet? But it's not just about snow is it? Not really. You had a very small dose of reality outside your comfort zone of being an MP.

You and your cohorts will have to do something pretty radical - world changing for the better in the UK radical - before I shed one tear of sympathy for all of you. Because none of you would do so for any of us unless it got you votes or, as this report proves, yet another totally useless soundbite.

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HarwoodBiker says...
1:24pm Mon 4 Jan 10

This article is a load of tosh. All mobile phones allow you to make emergency calls to 112 (the international emergency number) regardless of what networks are accessible and even if no SIM card is inserted.

Possible that there was simply no coverage whatsoever in this location.

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time.team says...
2:43pm Mon 4 Jan 10

Poor Janet, left out in the cold!
Hope you get your emergency call number Janet, with your dodgy expense claims and the election coming up soon, you'll need it!

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whereistedward says...
2:55pm Mon 4 Jan 10

Mikeee47 wrote:
Dogsbolloxs wrote: Funny how this is suddenly a major problem after Janet got stuck! Call me cynical.
Totally agree if it were you or I stuck we would have had to deal with it. Because it's an MP something needs doing, These MPs need to start realising they WORK FOR US!!!!! There is an emergency line iit's called 999. The emergency services can't get anywhere in snow & ice bound roads maybe the MP should be urging the LCC to grit the roads etc etc, lets look at the root problem
Do people like you actually read the article ???

It happened LAST WINTER. And Janet Anderson got stuck along with lots of other people.

So in order to help the situation she has taken up the issue with the relevant authorities.

This is called being a good MP - helping folk in difficulties. If this results in mobile phone signals being received in areas with no coverage then surely this is a good thing ?

I hope that you are never in an accident where you need to contact the emergency services quickly.

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TONY WALES says...
3:14pm Mon 4 Jan 10

If she had been lost for good, I can't say she would have been missed.
The main advantage would have been one less crook fiddling the UK taxpayers.

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amazed says...
3:26pm Mon 4 Jan 10

As readers of these columns know (if in fact they are ever read) I am not, repeat NOT a supporter of Janet Anderson. If she is on to something that could be useful to the public at large then on this occasion I would support her wholeheartedly. Bless her, it is time she had some sort of a good "press". 2009 has seen her in dire circumstances and with £46,000 etc., bandied about for her terraced house in "the Sunnyhurst area" she does need at least some sympathy!!
By the way where IS her ardent supporter "Guardian"? I reckon he has changed his moniker to something else. I thought that his prose would have been recognised by now but........no, he is still anon.

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whereistedward says...
4:12pm Mon 4 Jan 10

TONY WALES wrote:
If she had been lost for good, I can't say she would have been missed. The main advantage would have been one less crook fiddling the UK taxpayers.
Crook ?? Pray tell me what crime she has been arrested or convicted for ??

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hasslem hasslem says...
4:21pm Mon 4 Jan 10

amazed wrote:
As readers of these columns know (if in fact they are ever read) I am not, repeat NOT a supporter of Janet Anderson. If she is on to something that could be useful to the public at large then on this occasion I would support her wholeheartedly. Bless her, it is time she had some sort of a good "press". 2009 has seen her in dire circumstances and with £46,000 etc., bandied about for her terraced house in "the Sunnyhurst area" she does need at least some sympathy!! By the way where IS her ardent supporter "Guardian"? I reckon he has changed his moniker to something else. I thought that his prose would have been recognised by now but........no, he is still anon.
amazed - you would never make a detective.
.
he is on this page

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Excluded says...
7:36pm Mon 4 Jan 10

Let me get this right. Last year an MP was stuck in snow in her constituency and could not get an emergency signal. She noticed all around her that other people were in the same predicament. Snowfalls like that are not everyday occurences even in Rossendale so it is not like she had driven past such events every day of the week.

Unlike most of us she is in a position to try to do something about it. So she does. And gets criticised for it.

Presumably had she put out a statement saying: 'I'm aware of the problem, but I'm doing sod all about it' everyone would be jumping to her defence. Or have I missed something?

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chrislancs says...
7:39pm Mon 4 Jan 10

I wonder if the signal would help her find her way to rossendale after the election? Bye,Bye janet you deserted the people of Rossendale and they will return the compliment. The English Democrats are the party for all the people.

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Dai Darwen says...
9:26pm Mon 4 Jan 10

It doesn't state an exact date in the article (part read) but why has it taken approximately 12 months to highlight the situation. MMMmmmm probably expenses heat almost off and a forthcoming election. Sound detective work ????? No mast needed now.

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time.team says...
10:28pm Mon 4 Jan 10

whereistedward? That is a question only the likes of the 'Gardian' can answer!

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Grade One says...
1:49am Tue 5 Jan 10

so, MP....... you're in hazardous snowy terrain, there are cars abandoned all over the place, and theres a collision. However, thinking that all these people are just foolish and unable to drive, you carry on???? SERVES YOU RIGHT that you got stranded. Who are these people who always get stuck?!?!?! if the weathers that bad - stay at home! Or at least stick to the gritted main roads. tut....... we've managed for centuries......!

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