Video relay for 999 emergencies

In June we announced our decision to introduce emergency video relay in the UK. Emergency video relay must meet our approval criteria so it is equivalent to voice 999. It must be available 24 hours a day, use qualified and experienced interpreters and have the highest technical and quality standards.

We are proposing to approve one service which we consider meets the approval criteria: Sign Language Interactions.

We have published a consultation and a BSL video about this.

Emergency video relay will go live in June 2022

Approval of emergency video relay services

Transcript for BSL video – approval of emergency video relay services (PDF, 86.4 KB)

Emergency video relay – statement

Transcript for BSL video – emergency video relay statement (PDF, 83.3 KB)

Emergency video relay –  further consultation

You can read a transcript (PDF, 171.6 KB) of this video.

Here are the three short videos we made about the previous consultation.

1. We want to hear what you think of our proposal for video relay for 999 emergencies

2. How video relay for 999 emergencies would work

3. Two stories about Deaf people in 999 emergencies

You can also read a transcript (PDF, 152.4 KB) of the three videos.

Contact information

If you have any questions please get in touch with us. The email address is emergencyBSL@ofcom.org.uk. You can call us via text relay on 020 7783 4079, or via video relay.