Terror alerts may be issued through mobile phone text messages.
Sussex Chief Constable Ken Jones said the Government and the Association of Police Officers were investigating the idea.
He said: "The system could be used for lots of community alerts - serious accidents, child rescues, pollution and terror alerts."
Such systems, running alongside existing media alerts, would need the co-operation of mobile phone service providers.
Mr Jones said providers would issue text warnings to all customers unless individuals requested not to be contacted.
The chief, speaking at the Sussex Police Authority yesterday, praised the new Child Rescue Alert system following the disappearance and tracing of six-year-old Summer Haipule in Brighton earlier this month.
Alerts were issued to the media but the force said phase two, issuing mobile phone text messages, had been put on hold while the Government looked at the nationwide warning system.
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