More councils join the 112 emergency service

All the town and village councils in the Balearics will be hooked up to the 112 emergency service in March next year, it was announced yesterday by minister of the interior Josep M. Costa. The minister pointed out that the service currently answers 2'000 calls a day and co-ordinates 400 cases. Costa expressed his satisfaction at being able to unify all the councils with the body responsible for co-ordinating all emergencies in the archipelago. Costa and Balearic leader Francesc Antich yesterday signed the agreement with the Mayors of 17 councils who have now joined the 112 emergency service: Alaró, Andratx, Artá, Binissalem, Bunyola, Felanitx, Inca, Lloseta, Marratxi, Muro, Pollensa, Puigpunyent, Santa Margalida, Santa Maria del Camí, Soller, Son Servera and Valldemossa. The objectives of the 112 service are to improve the efficiency of the Local Police and Civil Defence units by using an integrated information and communications system. It also provides effective co-ordination between the various departments and services in the public safety sector by sharing information. After the signing Antich thanked the councils for joining the 112 service, as it was “necessary to unite the maximum efforts in the field of security.” He also took the opportunity to thank them for the co-ordination and co-operation shown after the November 2001 storms.