When should one call 999?
Discussion
Situation: last night followed an artic up the A419 and M5 for quite a way. (from Swindon to M5 j6.)
Basically he was all over the road, drifting over from lane 1 into lane 2 regardless of other traffic. Quite a few had to brake, at which point this driver would pull back into his lane. Only a bit later to drift left and nearly go up the kerb and verge. Once thought he was going to head into a parking layby.
Quite worried that this guy was on the verge (no pun intended) of falling asleep. Didn't overtake because he was cracking on and after a long day I was taking it steady.
Seriously considered phoning this in but on balance decided not. That was simply on the basis that we have it hammered into us about how many non emergency calls the 999 service get.
So two questions.
In the opinions of you all, esp b-i-b, was this a 999 matter or not? Should the call have been made?
Secondly does the UK need a second national number easily remembered like 999 for other than immediate life or death situations. eg I don't need assistance now but you ought to know that.....
pls discuss
(i have the VRN btw)
Basically he was all over the road, drifting over from lane 1 into lane 2 regardless of other traffic. Quite a few had to brake, at which point this driver would pull back into his lane. Only a bit later to drift left and nearly go up the kerb and verge. Once thought he was going to head into a parking layby.
Quite worried that this guy was on the verge (no pun intended) of falling asleep. Didn't overtake because he was cracking on and after a long day I was taking it steady.
Seriously considered phoning this in but on balance decided not. That was simply on the basis that we have it hammered into us about how many non emergency calls the 999 service get.
So two questions.
In the opinions of you all, esp b-i-b, was this a 999 matter or not? Should the call have been made?
Secondly does the UK need a second national number easily remembered like 999 for other than immediate life or death situations. eg I don't need assistance now but you ought to know that.....
pls discuss
(i have the VRN btw)
I had a similar quandry when the bloke punched me the other weekend ... it wasn't a 999 matter but hell I wanted to make sure that they were aware of it.
Now, what I didn't know is that there is an 0845 number for the various regional forces - Fernies gave me the one for Sussex who in turn gave me the number for Surrey (because that was where the offence occured).
So by that theory - as long as you have the number for your local force plumbed into your mobile then you should be able to report any non-emergency situations to the appropriate force.
Phil
Now, what I didn't know is that there is an 0845 number for the various regional forces - Fernies gave me the one for Sussex who in turn gave me the number for Surrey (because that was where the offence occured).
So by that theory - as long as you have the number for your local force plumbed into your mobile then you should be able to report any non-emergency situations to the appropriate force.
Phil
I used to work in a police control room and I can tell you that there is little that is more frustrating than someone who says that they didn't phone at the time because they didn't think it important but, now that they've seen the news . . .
If you are in doubt then phone 999. You pay for the service so use it. An emergency is something that may be an emergency to my mind. All control rooms use a grading system and, if your call is not that urgent, then it will be graded accordingly.
The only thing I'd say is that if you are in a car, work out where you are first. I've had " . . . on the A23 southbound, the dual carriageway bit." and " . . . on the A27, between Eastbourne and Brighton just by a roundabout." Not much help.
Also, although this seems obvious to me, if the fire service or/and the ambulance service are on scene then you can safely assume that the polic know about it.
And a lament from the coastguard is that, even when it is a boat in difficulty, they still ask for the police!
I know that Sussex police will pay attention to a lone female who has broken down. Or, indeed, anyone at risk. They will put out a message and any cars in the area will drive past and even stop on occasion. I have even had a serial start as - two lone females - the controller saying that one was crying that they had broken down.
As I said, the arbiters of what is and what is not an emergency are the call-takers, not you. So if you are not sure, then phone 999.
If you are in doubt then phone 999. You pay for the service so use it. An emergency is something that may be an emergency to my mind. All control rooms use a grading system and, if your call is not that urgent, then it will be graded accordingly.
The only thing I'd say is that if you are in a car, work out where you are first. I've had " . . . on the A23 southbound, the dual carriageway bit." and " . . . on the A27, between Eastbourne and Brighton just by a roundabout." Not much help.
Also, although this seems obvious to me, if the fire service or/and the ambulance service are on scene then you can safely assume that the polic know about it.
And a lament from the coastguard is that, even when it is a boat in difficulty, they still ask for the police!
I know that Sussex police will pay attention to a lone female who has broken down. Or, indeed, anyone at risk. They will put out a message and any cars in the area will drive past and even stop on occasion. I have even had a serial start as - two lone females - the controller saying that one was crying that they had broken down.
As I said, the arbiters of what is and what is not an emergency are the call-takers, not you. So if you are not sure, then phone 999.
Derek Smith said:
I used to work in a police control room and I can tell you that there is little that is more frustrating than someone who says that they didn't phone at the time because they didn't think it important but, now that they've seen the news . . .
If you are in doubt then phone 999. You pay for the service so use it. An emergency is something that may be an emergency to my mind. All control rooms use a grading system and, if your call is not that urgent, then it will be graded accordingly.
The only thing I'd say is that if you are in a car, work out where you are first. I've had " . . . on the A23 southbound, the dual carriageway bit." and " . . . on the A27, between Eastbourne and Brighton just by a roundabout." Not much help.
Also, although this seems obvious to me, if the fire service or/and the ambulance service are on scene then you can safely assume that the polic know about it.
And a lament from the coastguard is that, even when it is a boat in difficulty, they still ask for the police!
I know that Sussex police will pay attention to a lone female who has broken down. Or, indeed, anyone at risk. They will put out a message and any cars in the area will drive past and even stop on occasion. I have even had a serial start as - two lone females - the controller saying that one was crying that they had broken down.
As I said, the arbiters of what is and what is not an emergency are the call-takers, not you. So if you are not sure, then phone 999.
Thanks Derek and fair comment, so in future your comments would have made me make the call.
As the road was partly in unfamiliar territory must admit that kept a fairly close watch ond landmarks so that if he had gone off, or worse knocked someone else off could have been reasonably accurate about location.
Re your coastguard comment. As an active member of the RNLI the AA adverts calling themselves the 4th emergency service used to really pee us off.
FiF,
Well-done with the RNLI. I went to the Lee-on-Solent control room just to meet the people there and I was asked if I would like a flight in their helicopter. I'm no good with trick questions.
After we took off the pilot asked, "Where would you like to go?". We flew out to the Isle of Wight and then toured Portsmouth. I was kneeling just behind the pilot and co- and asked how far could they throw the helicopter around so they proceeded to demonstrate. Great bunch and an enjoyable day.
Whenever we asked them if they would help us, the answer was always "Yes". That was before the Government decided to cut back even more so I suppose they have to refuse nowadays.
Derek
Well-done with the RNLI. I went to the Lee-on-Solent control room just to meet the people there and I was asked if I would like a flight in their helicopter. I'm no good with trick questions.
After we took off the pilot asked, "Where would you like to go?". We flew out to the Isle of Wight and then toured Portsmouth. I was kneeling just behind the pilot and co- and asked how far could they throw the helicopter around so they proceeded to demonstrate. Great bunch and an enjoyable day.
Whenever we asked them if they would help us, the answer was always "Yes". That was before the Government decided to cut back even more so I suppose they have to refuse nowadays.
Derek
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