By Nick Heath, 29 July 2008 17:20
NEWS
Losing your glasses or forgetting the answer to a quiz question could hardly be classed as a matter of life or death.
But that did not stop some callers in Somerset from hitting 999 and berating exasperated emergency operators about their wife's sub standard salmon sandwiches or their difficulties peeling potatoes.
Now Avon and Somerset Police have turned to YouTube to shame timewasters for tying up a line where delays can cost lives.
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The force has posted the 999 calls on YouTube and hopes it will help track down hoax callers, who face up to six months in jail and a £5,000 in court.
One caller tells the operator: "My wife has left me two salmon sandwiches, which was left over from last night She won't put any food out or anything."
The operator replied: "I'm sorry but it's not an emergency because your wife won't give you anything to eat."
Another caller says: "I've lost my glasses, the one's that are for my near sight I'm trying to do my lunch and I can't see to do my potatoes."
The operator says: "You're through to the police, I can't come and look for your glasses, I'm sorry you will have to peel your potatoes on your own."
Chief superintendent Dave Hayler, head of communications for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We made the decision to put these examples of inappropriate 999 calls into the public domain because it is important people realise that wasting the time of the emergency services could cost lives. What could seem a harmless joke could prevent 999 services responding to a real emergency.
"We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour and anyone making hoax calls could face a serious criminal conviction."
Comments
There are 7 comments. Join the discussion
1. Peter Dunkley
To be fair, none of this lot were making hoax calls - they were just idiots. Apart from the old lady with her glasses - the call should have been transferred through to social services as she sounded as though she needs some help,,,
2. bharatgoyal
I think putting such calls on You Tube will 'glorify' such acts. Miscreants will get a publicity channel and something to brag amongst their friends.
No doubt, this can be an idea for a new serial on YouTube.
3. Richard
Police & other public official should examine their own conduct:
Posting this material on the Internet seems inappropriate - possibly contrary to the Data Protection Act.
Telling an elderly, possibly confused woman who'd lost her spectacles (ie. cannot see) to "look up the phone number in the phone book" sounds particularly stupid and possibly a disciplinary offence by the police operator.
Yes, these services are sometimes abused; yes, they get calls from drunken people etc.
However, the police operators are very far from perfect. Now that many services have been centralised, the police operators often have zero geographical knowledge and even less common sense.
It really is time that public officials re-learnt that they are "public servants" rather than "public masters."
No such material should be posted to the Internet or used in those ghastly TV programs.
4. anonymous
These people are like the idiots who don't get out the way for emergency vehicles.
How would you feel if a relative or friend needed urgent assistance and you could not get through to the emergency services because some old dear had lost her glasses or some cretin had been given salmon snadwiches.
The operators should just cut them off and they should then recieve a letter pointing out the error of their stupid unthinking ways (all the numbers are logged and are therefore traceable (obvoiusly a bit difficult if it is a phone box)).
5. MusicFan
I agree, posting these calls on youtube will just glorify the acts and cause more of this behaviour.
What the police fail to realise is that the pranksters dont care about wasting police time, thats why they make the call in the first place.
Also, shouldnt the police operator recognise that this is a prank straight away and put the phone down? Not waste more time and give the prankster a response?
Fighting stupidity with stupidity!
6. Ollie Clark
Wouldn't it be easier and far more effective for the police to just trace the calls and go and arrest the perpetrators? I can't see how putting them on YouTube is going to have any effect.
7. Andrew Beaumont
When was the Internet created?
The best answer would be with the development of ARPANET in 1969.