USE YOUR LOAVES IN 999 CALLS
Cops get request for bread during whiteout
A PLEA for bread to be delivered and a request to borrow a shovel were just some of the calls to police as the Beast from the East hit the country.
Police Scotland’s service centre responded to 23,626 calls made to 101 and 5508 999 calls in the four days leading up to Thursday, March 1, as blizzards swept the country.
Unsuitable calls to the service included:
● Someone asking police how to get to the shops for alcohol and cigarettes.
● A call asking if police were able to make deliveries of bread as they had run out.
● A caller reporting that a gate had frozen.
● A call requesting an emergency vet as the local vet would not arrange a home visit.
● Someone asking if they could borrow a snow shovel.
Chief Inspector Alan Gray, of contact, command and control division based in Govan, Glasgow, said: “These types of calls are taking an adviser away from what could be an important 999 call and a member of the public who may need urgent assistance.
“Our service centre advisers deal with a call every 10 seconds. They are highly trained, skilled and knowledgeable, and are there to help.
“Most people contact the police appropriately, however there are a small percentage who do not – this misuse of 101 and 999 could cost lives.”
And despite the public being informed that service centres were swamped and redirecting people to the appropriate organisations, calls were still received about road and school closures.