A NEW emergency phone number to protect lone women could be in operation by Christmas, it has been announced.

       The "walk me home service" - which could potentially be reached through the number 888 - is being developed by BT, which has also run the 999 service since it was launched in 1937.

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       The new service will protect women walking alone and could be ready by Christmas Credit: Alamy 4

       Priti Patel said she is looking at the scheme with her team Credit: AP

       Home Secretary Priti Patel has approved the proposal, which came in response to public outrage over the murder of Sarah Everard.

       Women would need to download an app and enter their home address, as well as their favourite destinations.

       Before the journey, they would call or text 888, giving an estimate of how long it should take them to reach their destination.

       The phone's GPS system would then track their journey and trigger an alert if they failed to arrive in time.

       'WALK ME HOME'

       If they feel threatened, women could also use the app to contact the police.

       Based on the initial time estimate, the app would send a message to check if the user reached home.

       A failure to respond would trigger calls to emergency contacts and then to the police.

       BT chief executive Philip Jansen said the app could cost ￡50 million and be ready by Christmas, the Daily Mail reports.

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       Ms Patel said: "This new phone line is exactly the kind of innovative scheme which would be good to get going as soon as we can. I’m now looking at it with my team and liaising with BT."

       The proposal follows the kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens.

       The 48-year-old cop snatched the 33-year-old off the streets as she walked home from a friend's home in Clapham Common, South West London, on March 3.

       The Old Bailey heard how Couzens used his warrant card to lure Sarah into his car as she walked home by claiming he was on a Covid patrol.

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       Sarah Everard was kidnapped and killed by a former police officeer Credit: pixel8000

       Another case that shocked the nation was the alleged murder of Sabina Nessa, who was found dead in a park just minutes from her home in South East London.

       She was just 200 yards from the home she had lived in since June.

       Former Domino's delivery driver Koci Selamaj, 36, was charged with murder and appeared at Willesden Magistrates' Court.

       He was accused of attacking Ms Nessa "violently" and killing her in a "premeditated" murder.

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       Sabina Nessa was found dead just a few minutes from her home Credit: PA