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The ‘secret’ code if you call 999 but cannot speak

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Do you know how to get help from 999 if you're in a life or death situation but cannot speak?

A campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the Silent Solution system – where pressing 55 lets the operator know the caller needs police help.

Kerry Power was murdered in 2013 by her stalker after making a silent 999 call, believing – incorrectly – it would be enough to let police know she was in trouble.

But her call was terminated after she did not speak or make any sound.

Ms Power's family said the stalker, her ex-partner, broke into the house after being unable to accept the end of their relationship.

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"After weeks of stalking and inappropriate behaviour, he broke into Kerry's house with a key he had previously had cut," they explained.

"As things escalated Kerry became worried for the safety of herself and her son, who was asleep upstairs, and called 999.

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"Although she was not able to speak for the fear of alerting the intruder to her actions, she followed the advice given by a police officer during an earlier visit – that she could call and not speak, as the police held her details [and] they would be alerted and attend.

"Unbeknown to Kerry, this was fiction and nobody came… a short while after the call, she was strangled."

Image: Kerry Power was murdered after thinking a silent 999 call would summon police: Pic: IOPC

Her family is supporting the campaign in the hope it could save people in a similar situation.

"It is always best to actually speak to a police call handler if you can, even if by whispering," says Catrin Evans from The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

"But if you are putting yourself or someone else in danger by making a sound, there is something you can do.

"Make yourself heard by coughing, tapping the handset or once prompted by the automated system, by pressing 55."

People put through to the Silent Solution system by the 999 operator will hear an automated message for 20 seconds which will ask the caller to press 55.

A police handler will then take over and attempt to communicate using simple yes or no answers.

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