Did you know that Bluetooth isn’t only used for advertising? Here at TextBlue, we work with a number of Police constabularies that are taking advantage of our technology to spread awareness, by using Bluetooth messaging.
Crime prevention is extremely important it’s all fine and well wanting to report a crime to the Police, but many people feel that if they need or want to report a crime, that it may not be important enough for the Police as they have ‘more serious’ crimes to deal with. By making the public aware of campaigns, how to report a crime, reminding the public that they will be supported and offering tips on how to help prevent criminal actions is benefitting not only the Police but the public as well.
Police officers that are on patrol are carrying mobile phones that broadcast community safety campaigns to remind people to lock their car doors and houses. We as the public, forget or think that we won’t get broken into to, we are only human after all but when you are sitting at home relaxing and unwinding from your long day, and your mobile receives a message from the Police (you can choose to accept or decline the message) reminding you to lock your doors, there is a good chance that you could have forgotten to lock your doors.
What about those areas that are being targeted for burglaries, cash machine muggings, pickpockets etc? By broadcasting a message via Bluetooth, the Police are spreading awareness of what is happening in the area. Even if the recipient of the message is already aware of what is happening in the area, by receiving the message it is a reminder. These messages will also reach the offenders, which is good, not only will they become aware that the Police are close by and targeting the area, but they will be aware of what the Police are actually doing in order to prevent the criminal acts, for example a plainclothes Police officer withdrawing money from a cash machine, the criminal will have no idea who is or isn’t a Police officer so this will act as a deterrent for them.
The Police have a hard job tracking down missing or wanted people. In order to find these people Police are using Bluetooth messaging to broadcast pictures and descriptions of people that they are looking for. Many people don’t watch the news, read a newspaper or listen to the radio, which is the standard method of advertising, but by receiving a message on your mobile with an actual picture of the person that the Police are looking for, you will have the picture to hand
Bluetooth messaging is also being used in pubs and clubs to remind patrons not to drink and drive. By using this method of advertising it is helping to reduce drink driving, not only is it a reminder not to drink and drive but some people do think that they are above the law, by receiving a message the Police are making the public aware that they are near and sometimes scare tactics is the only thing that is needed!
The use of Bluetooth messaging is benefitting us all, the Police are utilising the means to spread awareness, remind the public of contact numbers, campaigns and that they are not very far away!
