Police to Use Mobile Phone Text Messages to Fight Crime

Germans can now help Police catch criminals with their mobile phones. German Interior Minister Otto Schily has announced the start of a nationwide program where citizens can be alerted by a SMS text message when the police are conducting a manhunt. "It's another precise way to have the public help search for criminals or missing people," Schily said. Once users register, they will receive wanted text messages in a matter of seconds describing for example a bank robber on the run or an escaped prisoner. The system will also support new MMS messages that can send pictures as well as text.