As of today, you no longer have to expect a text message when the police ask citizens for help via Burgernet. Reports are only made via the app.
Via Burgernet, the police calls in the public for help in the event of missing persons, suspicious persons and vehicles. “We saw that people respond five times more often via the app than via SMS,” says Jacomien Pot of the National Control Room Cooperation. “You will examine both systems and the app simply has many more advantages.”
“A text message is bound to a number of characters,” explains Pot. “Then you get all sorts of weird abbreviations when a message is drafted. We often get complaints about that because people don’t understand it.”
People can also submit reports anonymously via the app, while a report via SMS asked for name, address and telephone number. “That’s something we want to get rid of at the police, the entire registration system.” You no longer have to leave this personal data via the app.
Pot is not afraid that fewer people will be reached now that SMS is no longer used. “We texted all participants and asked if they would like to download the app. We think it will be better than expected. We also assume that the app will be much more successful, because it sends much more targeted notifications to people who are close to the situation.”
And according to Pot, downloading the app will not be an obstacle. “You install the app, give permission to send notifications and share your location and then it’s done. And when you’re tired of it, you take it down again. It’s not like you’re bombarded by notifications .”
In the Northern Netherlands, an average of fifty reports are sent out per month, with the police enlisting the help of the public.