News : GMP RELEASE RECORDINGS OF IRRESPONSIBLE 999 CALLS Greater Manchester Police have released four recordings of irresponsible 999 calls as call handlers prepare for the busy Christmas period. Each recording features a call made to emergency call handlers - even though their respective issues are not only non-emergency, but also not a police matter. One of the recordings features a caller fearing for their safety as a hedgehog lurks in their garden, whilst the another one has a caller clearly in distress after a vending machine decides it does not want to part with any treats, despite already taking payment. The other two recordings feature a man who believes a sports shops refusal to give him a cash refund for a pair of trainers is theft and a man who is still waiting for his pizza to be delivered despite ordering 45 minutes prior to his 999 call. The recordings have been released in the build up to one of the busiest periods of the year for call handlers to highlight some of the challenges that they face whilst trying to answer emergency calls. The busiest day of the year for call handlers is New Year’s Eve with 3,451 emergency and non-emergency calls received last year between 5pm and 5am the following morning. Fifty-six of these calls were closed as hoaxes. GMP is urging people to make sure that they use the 999 emergency line responsibly over the Christmas period. Diane Grandidge, GMP’s business lead for call-handling, said “The Christmas and New Year period is the busiest time of year for our staff and every year we appeal to the public to be responsible in their use of the 999 emergency line. “A large percentage of calls that are received on 999 are either non-emergency or simply calls that should not be made to the police. “At this time of year many people are celebrating with friends and family and enjoying the festivities however, for those situations that need police attendance, we want to make sure that we can respond appropriately and - if there is an emergency - get there quickly. “The 101 line is a national police non-emergency contact number for use when, for example, your car has been stolen, your property damaged or you want to provide information about a crime. “We want to ensure that there are no delays in responding to an emergency call, therefore we will continue to urge the public to think before they dial 999.” The 999 number is reserved for emergency calls only, with 101 available for non-emergency calls. An emergency call should only be made if there is an immediate threat to life or property or if a crime is in progress.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 07:53:52 +0000
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