An emergency phone line for women - that was set to be launched following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard - has been scrapped, according to reports.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel and BT had discussed in 2021 creating the 888 service for women who felt unsafe walking alone to be tracked.
But on Wednesday, HuffPost reported that the initiative has been abandoned.
“It became clear over the course of our work that it does not make sense, as we thought initially, to launch a new BT service, but rather to share our learnings for the wider benefit of others already working on this,” a BT spokesperson said.
They said anyone who is concerned about their personal safety should “continue to dial 999”.
The phone line was initially discussed in response to the jailing of Wayne Couzens, a former Met Police officer who abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, 33, in south London in March 2021. The case shook the nation and further highlighted the plight of womens’ safety.
In 2021 BT chief executive Philip Jansen wrote to the Home Office proposing a emergency number be used to track women’s journeys as they walked home, and an alert be triggered if they do not reach home in time.
Mr Jansen said the idea came because he was filled with “outrage and disgust” after the murders of Ms Everard and Sabina Nessa.
He said “similar GPS technology to Uber and Google Maps” could allow a phone user to opt in to a “remote tracking mechanism”.
“When activated it would automatically trigger an alert if they didn’t reach their destination within the expected time.
“The user’s named emergency contacts – usually family and friends – could then raise the alarm with the police if they could not establish the user’s whereabouts and safety,” Mr Jansen explained at the time.
“No one would be missing for hours, their whereabouts unknown. It would also allow a user to send an instant alert to the police, with just one touch.
“My colleagues at BT are now working on the technology and practicalities.”
He added: “When activated it would automatically trigger an alert if they didn’t reach their destination within the expected time.”
Ms Patel was quoted as saying the scheme was “innovative” and that she and her team would work with BT on the project.
But MPs and campaigners at the time urged ministers to tackle male violence head on instead.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told HuffPost: “Instead of tracking women’s movements as we go about our lives, how about the government actually tackles male violence instead?
“Only 1% of reported rapes result in a charge. That’s the problem, not us walking home.”
BT has run the 999 emergency number for 84 years.
A BT Group spokesperson said: “Our objective was to see how BT Group could lend its expertise to the cause of personal safety – made necessary because of male violence. Having identified that there is a rich ecosystem of services and apps in existence already - our approach has been to work with the innovators pursuing this goal, and, of course, with groups focused on women’s safety.
“We’ve developed a solid body of new technology. However, it became clear over the course of our work that it does not make sense, as we thought initially, to launch a new BT service, but rather to share our learnings for the wider benefit of others already working on this. BT Group will continue to offer its research, development and insights to support the cause of personal safety and is currently working with other leaders in the space to help form a safer future for women.
“Anyone that is concerned about their personal safety should continue to dial 999. Our operators are highly trained, know how to listen for issues even if it is a “silent” call, and will be able to route through to the police if and as needed.
“We also hope to support progress against the root cause issues of violence of men against women through partnering with WalkSafe who are creating a new Safety Alliance, lending our support to help convene those across government, industry, and beyond, with the influence and insight needed to shape a safer future for women. More news on this when it is available.”
