Madeleine McCann: Dial Ofcom 116 To Hear A Calming Voice
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann
Which magazine: “European helpline numbers to be launched Easy child helpline and emotional support access”
Home phone and mobile phone regulator Ofcom has confirmed plans to introduce Europe-wide 116 emotional and child helpline phone numbers in the UK.
Caller: Hello, 116 116?
Yes. I’m here to help.
Caller: have you got the number for Jeremy Kyle?
At the moment, many telephone helpline and hotline phone numbers vary across different countries in Europe. This makes it difficult for visitors from other countries to find the right number when they need help or advice.
Bonjour, 116..? Kan ik helpen?
Public concern about child safety has been heightened by cases like the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal.
And since her how many other British children have gone missing in foreign climes? How many children from overseas have gone missing on holiday in the UK? The vanishing of Madeleine McCann was a very rare event. But there for the grace of God, eh. It could be you.
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare….
FT: “Phone 116 for emotional support, says Ofcom”
What is emotional support, and you get it from the concierge at your hotel, or the local police, or fellow tourists?
European visitors to the UK who find themselves in need of “emotional support” will be able to call a familiar number to hear a reassuring voice, the communications regulator said on Friday.
And what reassuring action follows the reassuring voice?
The same number will be used for similar services in all countries of the European Union after a European Commission ruling in 2007 that people anywhere in the 27 states should be able to ring a single number knowing they would receive a similar public service.
And so the EU claims another victory. One number. One land mass.
The first three numbers, all of which are free to the user, include 116 123, which will put callers in touch with what Ofcom calls “emotional support helplines”.
The regulator is about to begin a process that will see organisations invited to tender to provide the services but it is likely that the Samaritans will be involved in providing the helpline.
The other free numbers are 116 000, which will give details of missing children and 116 111 for children to ring if they need help.
This sounds useful. But what good calling number if no action follows? Who does the person on the other end of the phone call – a new super police force? 116 Placebo…
Three numbers starting in 116. Can you remember them all? Why not go equipped with the number of the local UK embassy on your phone?
The former was established as a response to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the child who went missing from a holiday resort in Portugal in May 2007. The latter is a service similar to that provided by Childline, the charity…
However, in future, as the European Commission allocated further 116 numbers to other socially useful services that were not quite as important as the first three, it would consider small charges.
116 LOST DOG. 116 PANIC ATTACK.
Perhaps some good will come of the child’s disappearance. Perhaps a child will call the number and be saved. Perhaps the number will reassure us.
Perhaps… But anything’s worth trying, right?
Posted: 21st, February 2009 | In: Madeleine McCann, Media Comments (13) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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February 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
amaral’s latest on mccannfiles
February 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
And it’s not that I’m one to complain but there’s nothing on there that recognises the searing trauma of not being able to fit into last year’s swimming cossie, nor, for that matter, the even more searing trauma of the complete disappearance from the shops of swimming cossies just when you need to buy one.
I blame it on the credit crunch; they sold them all off to save the world, just when global warming and the water lapping around our feet made swimming costumes the must-have accessory…
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Re: General reply from 116….
Thanks v much for the advise & now review of life plan…..
…blonde hair dye, skanky tattoo, lose kids abroad but gain 20kg of cocaine. If caught, demand Cherie to be put on the case for the right to have IVF treatment for at least 8 babies….sell story…sue for defamation…next stop, Celeb Big Brother or better, place on the gravy train to the EP as Minister for Victims of Crime.
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
what’s the number agin?
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Piss poor service, if you ask me. What about those of us planning to holiday a little further from home?
I’ve gone to all this trouble to max out my credit card in order to save the world, and now I discover that when I nip ashore at Walvis Bay, and mislay my offspring, I will have to make do with the locals.
Admittedly things worked fine for Brad and Anjie, but they might be a little less clued up on the many dreadful things that can happen to a poor, vulnerable, 22 year old martial artist {black belt first degree} with only the Queen of the Night Aria to defend herself with.
So Gordon Brown, you’ve got a month to roll-out the service to the whole of Africa, and then when I get lost in Capetown some Samaritan will be able to direct me to the ship in proper English with due regard to my emotional vulnerability….
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
fuel
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am
General reply from 116 to the Great British public
Naff off you lot, we have starving bankers and politicians to take care off first, then a mass of illegal immigrants, poor criminals who have been found a tad guilty of heinous crimes and they need lots of jollies to recover from the trauma of being caught, hordes of kids breeding like wildfire to keep their parents as comfy as possible and they MUST all come first.
Tax will be rising to 30%, trainfares ditto, supermarkets will increase the cost of booze, furl going back up
Come on, chin up you’ve never had it so good!
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
If El Gordo is listening….
My bay trees were abducted last week outside my house even though I watered them regularly. The police have effectively said ‘ pss off’ although I’ve had loads of enquiries from victim support plus a 6-page thingy about whether or not I’ve been psychologically traumatized etc.
So can I have tax rebate on a new pair of trees? Saves police time investigating especially when there are so many motorists to fine…
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
Hiya, my 2 children are missing will you be able to pay off my mortgage, and also my boyfriend’s mortgage please (only fair if we both benefit - well there were 2 kids after all), oh and some new clothes for my TV appearances, oh yes, and lots and lots of balloons, and you’d better add a private jet or two as we fancy touring the world (much more fun without the kids in tow, no more bobbing up and down to check on them every couple of hours) . I’ll be in touch when we need anything else, byeee.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
hello, it’s the prime minister here, how can I help you?
February 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Predatory pederasts who can’t find a victim have feelings too !
February 21st, 2009 at 10:42 am
Sky News?
February 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Or, in some cases a direct line to a nannying service or babysitter…