Cymraeg isod
**UPDATE APRIL 2020: New campaign posters and social media graphics are available here**
A national campaign to raise awareness of a system to help people alert police when in imminent danger but unable to speak, is being launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct today (8th April 2019).
The Silent Solution system enables a 999 mobile caller who is too scared to make a noise, or speak, to press 55 when prompted – to inform police they are in a genuine emergency.
The system is well-established in the UK but is only effective if the public know and understand how it works. It could, in extreme situations, potentially save a life.
The IOPC-led ‘Make Yourself Heard’ campaign is being launched during National Stalking Awareness Week (8th – 12th April), with support from the family of murder victim Kerry Power, Women’s Aid and Welsh Women’s Aid, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Prior to her murder, Kerry believed that if she made a silent 999 call she would not need to speak or make a noise for police to send assistance. Sadly her call was terminated and was not put through to the police control room because she did not know to use the Silent Solution system.
It is not true that police will automatically attend if you make a silent 999 call. Callers need to listen and respond to questions and instructions, including by coughing or tapping the handset if possible, or if using a mobile phone, once prompted by the automated Silent Solution system, pressing 55.
The system filters out thousands of accidental or hoax silent 999 calls made daily. Around 50 emergency calls from mobiles a day are transferred by a BT operator to police forces in the UK as a result of someone having pressed 55 when prompted, enabling the police to carry out urgent enquiries to respond.
IOPC Regional Director Catrin Evans said: “It is always best to actually speak to a police call handler if you can, even if by whispering, 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.
“We found from our investigation into police contact with Kerry that there is a lack of public awareness of the Silent Solution system and are keen to share this important information as widely as possible. It could potentially save a life.”
Kerry made her silent 999 call in the early hours of 14 December, 2013 when her ex-partner and stalker broke into her home. She did not respond to the BT operator’s instructions and her call was transferred to the Silent Solution system. As 55 was not pressed, the call was terminated and Devon and Cornwall Police were not notified of Kerry’s call. Her ex-partner David Wilder called police later that morning to report he had fatally strangled her.
Kerry’s family said: “Happy, fun-loving and considerate are all words you could use to describe Kerry, however the one thing everybody would mention first would be that she was the consummate mum.
“After a split from her son’s dad and a tough few years, things were on the up, Kerry was back to her old self and was looking forward. Unfortunately this was all brought to an end by the brutal actions of her ex-partner in December 2013.
“After weeks of stalking and inappropriate behaviour, he broke into Kerry’s house with a key he had previously had cut, unable to accept her decision to end their relationship. As things escalated Kerry became worried for the safety of herself and her son, who was asleep upstairs and called 999.
“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 they would be alerted and attend.
“Unbeknown to Kerry, this was fiction and nobody came…… a short while after the call, she was strangled.”
Our investigation could not conclusively identify the wording the police officer used when advising Kerry about making an emergency call however it was clear she did not know she would need to press 55 when prompted by the Silent Solution system.
Lisa Johnson, Manager of Direct Services at Women’s Aid, said: “For survivors of domestic abuse calling the police might be too dangerous. Many abusers will threaten to hurt or even kill them if they try to speak out about the abuse. This means that for far too long many women have not been able to access the emergency support they so desperately need from the police.
“For a long time we have been encouraging survivors to use the Silent Solution system to make a silent 999 call if they feel it would be dangerous for them to speak to the call operator. That’s why we are pleased to work with the IOPC to help raise awareness of the system so that survivors can call 999 without putting themselves at further risk and prevent further lives, like that of Kerry Power, from being taken.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Contact Management, ACC Alan Todd said: “One of the fundamental roles of police is to help people in an emergency. The police service receives 12 million 999 calls each year, and a small number of callers need to use the ‘Silent Solution’ as they are not able to use their voice during an incident.
“This solution ensures that those who need assistance can make themselves heard through a simple and straightforward process.”
As part of the Make Yourself Heard campaign, we have produced graphics, a poster and a ‘How to Guide’, which we hope will be shared widely to raise awareness of the Silent Solution system and debunk the myth that a silent call by itself will automatically bring help.
- Around 20,000 silent 999 calls (where no response is obtained to questions) are made a day. Of those, around 5,000 are transferred to the Silent Solution system because doubt whether the call is genuine exists.
The 55 instruction is detected around 50 times a day (1 per cent of all silent calls put through to the system). - A Silent Solutions 'How to Guide' can be found here
- A Silent Solutions poster can be found here.
- A photo of Kerry Power can be be found here.
- The IOPC oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales. The Silent Solution system is used throughout the United Kingdom.
- Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. The 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (run in partnership with Refuge) and our range of online services, which include the Survivors’ Forum, help hundreds of thousands of women and children every year.
- The Next Generation Text service, run by BT, is designed for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment. You need to register your mobile number before using the service. Visit the NGT website for information – https://www.ngts.org.uk/how-to-use-ngt/contact-999-using-ngt.html
**DIWEDDARIAD EBRILL 2020: Mae posteri ymgyrch a graffeg cyfryngau cymdeithasol newydd ar gael yma**
Ymgyrch genedlaethol i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r system Ateb Tawel
Heddiw (8 Ebrill 2019), mae ymgyrch genedlaethol i godi ymwybyddiaeth o system i helpu pobl i rybuddio’r heddlu pan fyddant mewn perygl ond yn methu â siarad, yn cael ei lansio gan Swyddfa Annibynnol Ymddygiad yr Heddlu.
Mae’r system Ateb Tawel yn galluogi galwr ffôn symudol 999 sydd â gormod o ofn i wneud sŵn, neu i siarad, i bwyso ar 55 pan ofynnir iddo/iddi – i hysbysu’r heddlu eu bod mewn argyfwng gwirioneddol.
Mae'r system wedi'i hen sefydlu yn y DU ond dim ond os yw'r cyhoedd yn gwybod ac yn deall sut mae'n gweithio, y mae'n effeithiol. Gallai, mewn sefyllfaoedd eithafol, o bosibl achub bywyd.
Mae’r ymgyrch ‘Make Yourself Heard’ a arweinir gan yr IOPC yn cael ei lansio yn ystod Wythnos Genedlaethol Ymwybyddiaeth o Stelcio (8fed – 12fed Ebrill), â chefnogaeth gan deulu’r dioddefwr llofruddiaeth Kerry Power, Cymorth i Ferched a Chymorth i Ferched Cymru, a Chyngor Cenedlaethol Penaethiaid yr Heddlu.
Cyn ei llofruddiaeth, credai Kerry pe bai'n gwneud galwad 999 dawel na fyddai angen iddi siarad na gwneud sŵn i'r heddlu anfon cymorth. Yn anffodus, daeth ei galwad i ben ac ni chafodd ei throsglwyddo i ystafell reoli'r heddlu oherwydd nad oedd yn gwybod sut i ddefnyddio'r system Ateb Tawel.
Nid yw’n wir y bydd yr heddlu’n mynychu’n awtomatig os byddwch yn gwneud galwad 999 dawel. Mae angen i alwyr wrando ac ymateb i gwestiynau a chyfarwyddiadau, gan gynnwys trwy besychu neu dapio’r ffôn os yn bosibl, neu os ydynt yn defnyddio ffôn symudol, unwaith y byddant wedi’u hysgogi gan y system Ateb Tawel awtomataidd, gan bwyso 55.
Mae'r system yn hidlo miloedd o alwadau 999 tawel damweiniol neu ffug a wneir bob dydd. Mae tua 50 o alwadau brys o ffonau symudol y dydd yn cael eu trosglwyddo gan weithredwr BT i heddluoedd yn y DU o ganlyniad i rywun wedi pwyso ar 55 pan gafodd ei annog, gan alluogi’r heddlu i gynnal ymholiadau brys i ymateb.
Dywedodd Cyfarwyddwr Rhanbarthol yr IOPC, Catrin Evans: “Mae bob amser yn well siarad â rhywun sy’n delio â galwadau’r heddlu os gallwch chi, hyd yn oed trwy sibrwd, ond os ydych chi’n rhoi eich hun neu rywun arall mewn perygl drwy wneud sŵn, mae rhywbeth y gallwch chi ei wneud.
“Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn cael eich clywed trwy beswch, tapio'r ffôn neu unwaith y cewch eich annog gan y system awtomataidd, trwy wasgu 55.
“Canfuom o’n hymchwiliad i gysylltiad yr heddlu â Kerry fod diffyg ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd o’r system Ateb Tawel ac rydym yn awyddus i rannu’r wybodaeth bwysig hon mor eang â phosibl. Gallai o bosib achub bywyd.”
Gwnaeth Kerry ei galwad 999 dawel yn ystod oriau mân y bore ar 14 Rhagfyr, 2013 pan wnaeth ei chyn-bartner a stelciwr dorri i mewn i’w chartref. Ni ymatebodd i gyfarwyddiadau gweithredwr BT a throsglwyddwyd ei galwad i’r system Ateb Tawel. Gan na chafodd 55 ei bwyso, daeth yr alwad i ben ac ni hysbyswyd Heddlu Dyfnaint a Chernyw am alwad Kerry. Galwodd ei chyn-bartner David Wilder yr heddlu yn ddiweddarach y bore hwnnw i adrodd ei fod wedi ei thagu’n angheuol.
Dywedodd teulu Kerry: “Mae hapusrwydd, llawn hwyl ac ystyriol i gyd yn eiriau y gallwch chi eu defnyddio i ddisgrifio Kerry, ond yr un peth y byddai pawb yn ei grybwyll gyntaf fyddai ei bod hi’n fam gyflawn.
“Ar ôl gwahanu oddi wrth dad ei mab ac ar ôl ychydig o flynyddoedd anodd, roedd pethau'n gwella, roedd Kerry yn ôl at ei hen hunan ac yn edrych ymlaen. Yn anffodus daeth hyn i gyd i ben gan weithredoedd creulon ei chyn-bartner ym mis Rhagfyr 2013.
“Ar ôl wythnosau o stelcian ac ymddygiad amhriodol, fe dorrodd i mewn i dŷ Kerry gydag allwedd yr oedd wedi cael ei thorri’n flaenorol, gan fethu â derbyn ei phenderfyniad i ddod â’u perthynas i ben. Wrth i bethau waethygu dechreuodd Kerry boeni am ei diogelwch ei hun a’i mab, a oedd yn cysgu i fyny’r grisiau felly ffoniodd 999.
“Er na allai siarad oherwydd yr ofn o dynnu sylw’r tresmaswr at ei gweithredoedd, dilynodd y cyngor a roddwyd gan heddwas yn ystod ymweliad cynharach; y gallai hi ffonio a pheidio â siarad, gan fod yr heddlu yn cadw ei manylion y byddent yn cael eu rhybuddio ac yn mynychu.
“Yn ddiarwybod i Kerry, ffuglen oedd hon ac ni ddaeth neb… ychydig ar ôl yr alwad, cafodd ei thagu.”
Ni allai ein hymchwiliad nodi'n derfynol y geiriad a ddefnyddiodd yr heddwas wrth gynghori Kerry ynghylch gwneud galwad frys, fodd bynnag roedd yn amlwg nad oedd yn gwybod y byddai angen iddi bwyso ar 55 pan gafodd ei hannog gan y system Ateb Tawel.
Dywedodd Lisa Johnson, Rheolwr Gwasanaethau Uniongyrchol gyda Chymorth i Fenywod: “I oroeswyr cam-drin domestig gall ffonio’r heddlu fod yn rhy beryglus. Bydd llawer o gamdrinwyr yn bygwth eu brifo neu hyd yn oed eu lladd os ydynt yn ceisio siarad am y cam-drin. Mae hyn yn golygu nad yw llawer o fenywod wedi gallu cael gafael ar y cymorth brys y mae ei angen yn ddirfawr arnynt gan yr heddlu ers gormod o amser.
“Ers amser maith rydym wedi bod yn annog goroeswyr i ddefnyddio’r system Ateb Tawel i wneud galwad 999 dawel os ydynt yn teimlo y byddai’n beryglus iddynt siarad â gweithredwr yr alwad. Dyna pam rydym yn falch o weithio â’r IOPC i helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r system fel y gall goroeswyr ffonio 999 heb roi eu hunain mewn mwy o berygl ac atal bywydau ychwanegol, fel un Kerry Power, rhag cael eu cymryd.”
Dywedodd Arweinydd Rheoli Cyswllt Cyngor Cenedlaethol Penaethiaid yr Heddlu, y Prif Gwnstabl Cynorthwyol Alan Todd: “Un o rolau sylfaenol yr heddlu yw helpu pobl mewn argyfwng. Mae gwasanaeth yr heddlu yn derbyn 12 miliwn o alwadau 999 bob blwyddyn, ac mae angen i nifer fach o alwyr ddefnyddio’r ‘Ateb Tawel’ gan nad ydynt yn gallu defnyddio’u llais yn ystod digwyddiad.
“Mae’r datrysiad hwn yn sicrhau bod y rhai y mae angen cymorth arnynt yn gallu cael eu clywed trwy broses syml a didrafferth.”
Fel rhan o'r ymgyrch "Make Yourself Heard", rydym wedi cynhyrchu graffeg, poster a 'Canllaw Sut i wneud', y gobeithiwn y byddant yn cael eu rhannu'n eang i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r system Ateb Tawel a chwalu'r myth y bydd galwad dawel ynddi'i hun yn dod â help yn awtomatig.
- Mae tua 20,000 o alwadau 999 tawel (lle na cheir ymateb i gwestiynau) yn cael eu gwneud bob dydd. O'r rheini, mae tua 5,000 yn cael eu trosglwyddo i'r system Ateb Tawel oherwydd bod amheuaeth os yw'r alwad yn ddilys yn bodoli.
Mae'r cyfarwyddyd 55 yn cael ei ganfod tua 50 gwaith y dydd (1 y cant o'r holl alwadau tawel a roddir trwy'r system). - Mae ' Canllaw Sut i wneud' Atebion Tawel ar gael yma
- Mae ' Canllaw Sut i wneud' Atebion Tawel ar gael yma.
- Mae llun o Kerry Power i'w weld yma.
- Mae'r IOPC yn goruchwylio system gwynion yr heddlu yn Lloegr ac yng Nghymru Defnyddir y system Ateb Tawel ledled y Deyrnas Unedig.
- Cymorth i Ferched (dolen yn un allanol) yw'r elusen genedlaethol sy'n gweithio i roi terfyn ar gam-drin domestig yn erbyn menywod a phlant. Mae’r Llinell Gymorth Trais Domestig Genedlaethol 24 Awr ar 0808 2000 247 (sy’n cael ei rhedeg mewn partneriaeth â Refuge) a’n hystod o wasanaethau ar-lein, sy’n cynnwys Fforwm y Goroeswyr, yn helpu cannoedd o filoedd o fenywod a phlant bob blwyddyn.
- Mae gwasanaeth Next Generation Text, sy’n cael ei redeg gan BT, wedi cael ei gynllunio ar gyfer pobl sy’n fyddar, yn drwm eu clyw neu sydd â nam ar eu lleferydd. Mae angen i chi gofrestru eich rhif ffôn symudol cyn defnyddio'r gwasanaeth. Ewch i wefan NGT am wybodaeth – https://www.ngts.org.uk/how-to-use-ngt/contact-999-using-ngt.html
