London Fire Brigade upgrades system with live translation
Iain Hoey
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New emergency system to improve communication with non-English speakers
The London Fire Brigade will deploy a new emergency response system that includes a live language translation feature, according to UK Authority.
The £20 million contract was signed by the London Fire Commissioner and awarded to NEC Software Solutions.
The contract came into effect in February and will run until July 2027.
Features to support incident coordination and public communication
The updated system will allow the public to contact the fire service using platforms such as WhatsApp and other social media channels.
NEC explained that the system will use real-time data analytics to trace call origins, immediately tagging them as incident-related.
The feature aims to help control room staff avoid dispatching duplicate units and make better deployment decisions during larger emergencies.
The company will partner with Mitel to integrate the new communications features.
Multi-language capabilities to improve access for London residents
UK Authority reported that the system’s translation feature is designed to support people who do not speak English as their first language.
This aims to improve communication during emergency calls and help control room operators respond more accurately and quickly.
The London Fire Brigade said the technology reflects its efforts to support a diverse population with accessible emergency services.
Technology investment intended to support operational performance
Patrick Goulbourne, assistant commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, said: “Having the right technology means we can be there for Londoners when they need us most.
“Our crews work under immense pressure, and it’s vital we give them the best tools possible to help protect our capital city and its people.
“This new technology shows our commitment to improving and modernising our service so we can respond to incidents as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
London Fire Brigade to launch upgraded system with live translation: Summary
The London Fire Brigade has signed a £20 million contract with NEC Software Solutions.
The contract came into effect in February 2025 and will run until July 2027.
The system is expected to be operational in 2026.
It includes a live translation feature to help non-English speakers communicate during emergency calls.
The system will also allow contact through WhatsApp and social media platforms.
Real-time data analytics will trace call origins and help coordinate responses.
The technology is intended to avoid duplicating emergency dispatches.
NEC will work with Mitel to integrate communication functions into the control room.
The system is designed to support both operational efficiency and accessibility.
The London Fire Brigade stated that the investment will modernise its service.