“Please register your trip with the appropriate agency, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and think before you trek – know the weather conditions, know your physical abilities, and plan your route and stick to it.”
These rescues preceded the launch of an improved emergency dispatch platform called BluLink that connects the community directly to police and first responders in emergencies.
The technology allows people to provide police with GPS coordinates, live video streaming, digital media uploads, and text messages via a link sent to them from triple-zero (000) dispatchers.
The BluLink system does not run on an app. All people need to do is reply to a link sent to their mobile phone.Credit: NSW Police
BluLink has been used to aid recent investigations, including the Bondi Junction stabbing incident earlier this year, and live streaming has beamed more than 700 events back to emergency operators. The technology has also helped locate more than 100 missing people and more than 60 lost bushwalkers since it began being used in February 2023.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the state-wide rollout of BluLink gives officers instant, real-time access to unfolding emergencies.
“Police rely on members of the community to accurately describe an incident, so they know what they’re dealing with and how they need to respond; BluLink gives them unrivalled access to a scene before they’ve even arrived,” Catley said.
“On average, police receive more than 1500 emergency calls for assistance every day; this technology will help triage and respond to incidents more effectively than ever before.”
Assistant Commissioner Stacey Maloney said BluLink will enhance policing responses. “BluLink is expected to better assist the public and save time and resources across every police command for both front-line and specialist areas,” Maloney said.
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Source Agencies
