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Unnecessary 111 calls rile police

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The call centres receive about 1.8 million calls a year, about 700,000 being emergency 111 calls.

The call centres receive about 1.8 million calls a year, about 700,000 being emergency 111 calls.

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:17a.m.
Police are frustrated with the number of ridiculous calls being made to the emergency centre, including a Wairoa woman who dialled 111 when her husband did not use air freshener after using the toilet.

The woman hung up when the call was answered, which prompted an emergency response by two officers, The Dominion Post reported.

When they arrived the wife explained she had argued with her husband for not using the air freshener.

Sergeant Aubrey Ormond said no charges were laid.

The incident followed a 111 call taken by the southern police communications centre from a woman who demanded police help to get her brother's wife-to-be off her back over attending their wedding.

Another call, which was quickly hung up, sounded like there was a loud argument happening in the background. When police phoned back it turned out the person had called 111 accidentally from church and the noise was coming from the preacher giving a sermon. 

National communications centre manager Superintendent Andy McGregor said the call centres received about 1.8 million calls a year, about 700,000 being emergency 111 calls.

He urged people to use their common sense when dialling the emergency number.

NZPA

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Comments [1]

Really?
16 Jan 2010 2:37p.m.

I reckon the people who prank and make rediculous calls to 111 should be fined on the spot. How much resource is wasted following up a prank 111 call...

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