China's Ministry of Public Security has opened a short message alarm channel and will use the number 12110 as the national unified alarm number, adding new ways for people to report emergencies to the police.

According to the requirement of the Ministry of Public Security, cities that already have short message alarm service should change the alarm number to 12110 and those have not opened such services should also use this unified number when opening the platform.

The new service is currently opened in 44 prefecture-level cities and 15 county-level cities, including Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang.

The new short message alarm channel mainly aims to provide help to people who have difficulties in hearing and speaking and those who are in a dangerous situation which does not allow them to ask for help by making phone calls. In addition, the short message alarm service in some cities also accepts reports of fraudulent or spam mobile messages.