Sunday, March 5

False Alarm Malicious

From time to time (ok, at least ten times a shift!), we get callers that believe it to be the funniest thing in the world to ring 999 and report an incident. This is the same for all emergency services and its one of the most irritating thing in the world. Last night we had a regular caller contact us, a regular, someone who rings us enough times for us to identify their voice, can you believe it?! Anyway, they always ring from telephone kiosks, they always report car accidents involving either buses or lorries (means a bigger turnout, specialist units etc) and they always state that they are off duty police officers, even giving their 'collar number' for reference. We have to send 2 fire engines, the specialist rescue unit with a supporting crew (another fire engine), inform Police and Ambulance and tell a Senior Officer. What a waste of resources in any case, but when there was a large incident involving 6 fire engines just round the corner, it was dangerous.

Not all malicious callers are children. Someone of 'apparent' maturity finds it amusing to ring us with a great big fat lie. We know its going to be malicious when we are talking to him, we know the sound of his voice, however he knows that if he get flustered when we challenge him it proves he's lying so he doesn't! He remains calm, composed and continues to state that he is an off duty police officer and we can check with his station - even gives the telephone number! We keep him talking on the line, even get someone else to ring the police and ask for their urgent attendance to the location of the TK. Everytime he gets away with it. I throw my hands up in the air in frustration.

9 comments:

PC Disillusioned said...

He's certainly got his head screwed on when it comes to that sort of call. Even though you *know*, how can you not turn out to that? The only option I suppose is to consider delaying the response until such time as the caller has been verified.

Very rarily (speaking from my own force area), are fire brigade the first service to be notified of an accident. Either ambulance or police are the first words uttered out of the callers mouths after dialing 999. Occasionally the operator will get "all three!" in response to "which service?", in which case the call is first routed to the police who will then make the follow-on calls.

The point to that paragraph is, while you're checking this idiots credentials, you can rely on someone else reporting the incident to either yourselves or another service. If no call is forthcoming, consider dispatching eith an officer to check, or defer it to the police to check out before ambulance and fire also have to waste resources?

In particular for this chap though, I would seriously consider analysing his calling behaviour, and have a joint-service (police/fire) sting operation.

Good luck!!

Anonymous said...

In my local area (am a bobby) we have a 'character' shall we say who likes to ring up with similar claims. She also claims to have buried people in local woods every so often. She has been locked up numerous times and a file which looked about a foot thick was presented to the CPS, documenting times; dates; nature of calls and the fact that this bird had been collared each and everytime in the hone box - in some cases still talking to the operator. CPS said no further action - insufficient evidence to proceed. My arms got flung up in despair too!

Unknown said...

very nice stuff!!

Unknown said...

Yes, of course. False alarms are malicious. I have experienced horrible situation due to false arming systems. Specially, fire alarm systems.

Unknown said...

Yes, of course. False alarms are malicious. I have experienced horrible situation due to false arming systems. Specially, fire alarm systems.

Unknown said...

I sense the frustration of others from those who setting off Fire Alarms maliciously. It's all down to educating and stronger warnings and punishment for me.

OMDS said...

False alarms are some what distracting too. It's worthless to do some sort of stuff.

Unknown said...

Many false alarms are caused by a lack of awareness on the part of staff or contractors about the existence of the fire alarm system or the things that can trigger it.

Las Vegas Fire Protection

Digital Marketer said...

OMD wants to provide your place of business or home with top of the line security systems to help you fill all of your safety needs. Security