From today, Shenzhen residents can dial 110 for any sort of emergency, including crime, fires, traffic accidents or traffic jams, the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau announced yesterday.

The previous emergency numbers --119 for fire, 122 for traffic accidents, and 110 for crimes or other emergencies -- have now been combined into one -- 110 -- from Jan. 10, a date bearing the same figures as the selected emergency number. Numbers 119 and 122 remain in service, but all calls will be directed to the 110 emergency platform.

The combination of emergency numbers aims to make it more convenient for people to call police in an emergency, and further raise the police's efficiency in dealing with incidents, said Zhang Xicai, vice commander-in-chief of the municipal public decurity's headquarters.

Shenzhen is among the first cities to use the combined emergency number which will be rolled out nationally, said Zhang. A police command network has been set up with the Municipal Public Security Bureau 110 Headquarters serving as its core; Bao'an 110 Headquarters and Longgang 110 Headquarters as the regional command centers; and fire-proof headquarters and traffic police headquarters serving as special command centers.

The 110 Headquarters in the Municipal Public Security Bureau will monitor and control the classification of incoming emergency information, so that the fire brigade will continue to handle fire emergencies, traffic police handle traffic accidents, and other emergencies forwarded to either the relevant headquarters or local police stations depending on the nature of the call, he said.

More than 200 public security bureau emergency operators provide an around-the-clock service. In addition, Shenzhen residents can also report to the police by sending a mobile phone message to the police short messaging service (SMS) number 0755110.

(Shenzhen Daily January 10, 2007)