While 911 numbers across the country already take text messages, New York City’s 911 hotlines, and 311 non-emergency hotlines have been upgraded to handle photos taken by cell phone, and also videos.

The concept is simple: callers witnessing an offense photograph the perpetrator, and then email or MMS the picture to the 911 hotline (up to three pictures per call) after calling to report the incident.

According to Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, “When it comes to crime fighting, a picture is worth more than a thousand words. This is just one more tool to help the public help the police in our powerful partnership.”

And indeed, the new system, whose software alone cost $250 000 and took 18 months to develop, will make criminals more easy to catch than ever.

But criminal offences aren’t the only thing you can send pictures of. NYC’s 311 hotline, which handles quality-of-life issues such as potholes, dirty parks or broken payphones, has also been upgraded with this new system and allows callers to send photos as well, in order to better identify the problem.

Cellphone cameras are becoming more and more common today, and therefore a criminal’s chance of getting caught is now higher than ever before. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg advises however, that "As helpful as your photo or video image is, do not put yourself in harm's way to obtain them," he said. "Your safety is paramount.” Bloomberg is not worried with the system being overflowed with photos, and although he urges the public not to “cry wolf”, he has stated he believes “the problem is reverse, that people don't call us enough.”