App can help locate someone in emergency

Members of the public calling 999 or 101 can now use a mobile phone app to identify their location when they are in an unknown or remote area.

The what3words app grids the Earth into three by three-metre squares by encoding GPS co-ordinates to give each square a unique set of three words.

This means that when someone contacts Police Scotland, they have the option to use what3words if they are in an unfamiliar area, rural location or one that is difficult to describe.

However, Police Scotland service advisors will always ask for a postal address as default when someone calls 999 or 101.

The app is already in use by the majority of emergency services across the UK, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

What3words will also help to support local policing incidents and pre-planned operations and events.

Superintendent Iain MacLelland, of Police Scotland’s digitally enabled policing programme, said: “What3words will help frontline police officers and staff to locate members of the public quickly when they are calling from an unknown or rural area.

“The introduction of what3words is a great additional resource for our communities and our officers who serve them.

“It’s also important to highlight that, when Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease, we know that people may want to venture further from home, to remote or rural locations.

“What3words does not change the requirement to ensure that you are properly prepared if heading to the hills, always have a map and compass and ensure that you have your route planned out in advance.”