Prat !

[219]

Nick's local force , it would seem , offer that somewhat misleading advice . Few other forces seem to offer such advice , including Strathclyde ( which covers the largest area of all UK forces ) where my call was made , and appreciated .

As always , if you are reporting a 'crime in progress' or 'something which requires immediate police action' , the correct proceedure is to call 999 .

 

[John]

Best advise might be to do as the police ask and not to use 999, but rather use the non emergency number or report it at a local police station.

That's just it - general advice.

There will always be exceptions as in this case.

 

[nick mercedes]

Nick's local force , it would seem , offer that somewhat misleading advice . Few other forces seem to offer such advice , including Strathclyde

"Phone our main contact number 0141 532 2000. They can put you through to your local office"

Strathclyde Police - Report Crime

"A NATIONAL three-digit police phone number to handle non-emergency calls is set to be launched in Scotland.
Glasgow City Council has been working on the project for the Scottish Executive and will report to ministers on options soon.

Police favour extending a 101 number, being piloted in England and Wales, north of the border.

The number is intended to make it easier to report minor crime and anti-social behaviour while relieving pressure on the 999 service currently burdened with masses of non-essential calls"

"Another major problem with the existing system is that it encourages people to phone 999, even for non-emergencies.

Around three-quarters of 999 alerts are for non-emergencies, clogging up lines dedicated for handling critical calls"

HTH

 

[davidjpowell]

"Phone our main contact number 0141 532 2000. They can put you through to your local office"

Strathclyde Police*-*Report Crime

"A NATIONAL three-digit police phone number to handle non-emergency calls is set to be launched in Scotland.
Glasgow City Council has been working on the project for the Scottish Executive and will report to ministers on options soon.

Police favour extending a 101 number, being piloted in England and Wales, north of the border.

The number is intended to make it easier to report minor crime and anti-social behaviour while relieving pressure on the 999 service currently burdened with masses of non-essential calls"

"Another major problem with the existing system is that it encourages people to phone 999, even for non-emergencies.

Around three-quarters of 999 alerts are for non-emergencies, clogging up lines dedicated for handling critical calls"

HTH

Nick

If someone is in immediate danger - or the crime is happening right now - dial 999
*Source Report Crime page on Strathclyde Police webpage - Strathclyde Police - Report Crime

Or do you believe that Pontoneer should have stopped on the hard shoulder pulled out his phone, navigated the web, then rung a different number?

Who knows if it was bad enough driving to deem the call? I was not there, as you were not. Pontoneer felt so and he was there.

Until there is a national memorable number for 'secondary crime' 999 is what will no doubt be used. I suspect that if someone is in doubt, the Police would prefer to get the call and make the decision themselves as to priority.

 

[trapperjohn]

So bring on 101.

Given the situation as Pontoneer described. It would be 999 for me even if 101 was available.

Hangs head for collar to be felt, offers wrists and says "I'll come quietly"

 

[artyman]

Surely the simple solution is if the operator determines it is non emergency a button is pressed to immediately transfer the call to the appropriate number, problem solved. Must be possible in this techno age.

 

[nick mercedes]

Nick

If someone is in immediate danger - or the crime is happening right now - dial 999
*Source Report Crime page on Strathclyde Police webpage - Strathclyde Police*-*Report Crime

Or do you believe that Pontoneer should have stopped on the hard shoulder pulled out his phone, navigated the web, then rung a different number?

Yes, please never ring 999 to report someone cutting you up in traffic etc, it's a very bad idea and is wasting everyones time, especially when the operator could be dealing with a genuine emergency.

"Around three-quarters of 999 alerts are for non-emergencies, clogging up lines dedicated for handling critical calls."

Some common sense, please.

 

[davidjpowell]

Yes, please never ring 999 to report someone cutting you up in traffic etc, it's a very bad idea and is wasting everyones time, especially when the operator could be dealing with a genuine emergency.

"Around three-quarters of 999 alerts are for non-emergencies, clogging up lines dedicated for handling critical calls."

Some common sense, please.

I don't see much of that on this thread. If somone's driving is so bad (I think this person did not just cut up the one car?) that you think the driver could be drink or drug impaired what would you do - nothing?!

It's a sympton of modern Britain really.

 

[nick mercedes]

I don't see much of that on this thread. If somone's driving is so bad (I think this person did not just cut up the one car?) that you think the driver could be drink or drug impaired what would you do

If you see someone driving badly, and you're the sort of person who gets off on reporting them, by all means contact the police, however please do not ring 999 to do it, follow the advise given by the police and ring the non critical number or go to a police station.

 

[nick.ged]

in South Yorkshire, all delivered with the amount of courtesy and gratitude as you can imagine.

yorkshire, need you say more? lol

 

[davidjpowell]

If you see someone driving badly, and you're the sort of person who gets off on reporting them, by all means contact the police, however please do not ring 999 to do it, follow the advise given by the police and ring the non critical number or go to a police station.

Have to say not something that I would do in normal circumstances. But if someone's driving is sufficiently bad that I feel it is apporiate, I would think it's something to do there and then as a Crime in progress.

If someone has just cut me up alone, then I don't think I would bother either with either option.

I did dial 999 once, after coming across somone who had stopped in lane 2 of the A1 (dual carriageway only). I still think it was the right thing to do now as it was very dangerous, and I do not carry 'local' numbers around of every Police Station in the country....

 

[nick mercedes]

Have to say not something that I would do in normal circumstances. But if someone's driving is sufficiently bad that I feel it is apporiate, I would think it's something to do there and then as a Crime in progress.

Traffic offence rather than criminal offence in progress aparantly, so even our freind with the video camera and the barrister at his side is wasting his time reporting this sort of thing it would seem.

"unless a police officer witnesses something, or is directly involved in the incident, no prosecution will be bought. Even with video evidence or photographs, they will not be deemed credible evidence as lawyers could argue they could be fabricated or not 100% genuine. Even if they do not, the "Police" tend to be the only credible witnesses as they are deeemed to be "Trained Observers". Don't shoot the messenger, because even if I make a call, off duty to report that I am following a vehicle concerned in Dangerous Driving, I will be told (and have been) "The vehicle will be circulated, thanks for your call".

Unless the driver has committed a CRIMINAL OFFENCE and not a TRAFFIC OFFENCE, it is unlikely the police will take action."

It seems that 101 will be the best course of action to report someone driving dangerously (even if it will acheive nothing):

"call 101 if you need to:

report dangerous driving"

Reporting non-emergency crimes using 101 : Directgov - Crime and justice

 

[Dryce]

T
It seems that 101 will be the best course of action to report someone driving dangerously (even if it will acheive nothing):

"call 101 if you need to:

report dangerous driving"

Reporting non-emergency crimes using 101 : Directgov - Crime and justice

Useless because it's not national across the UK.

Half baked and pointless rolling out this sort of scheme unless it's national.

And then there's the "the cost of calls to 101 from other networks and mobiles may vary. Check with your telephone company for details".

So not just half baked and incompetent but potentially useless to somebody without sufficient credit on their mobile.

 

[Silentdeed]

Wouldn't say thats the typical behaviour of a Rover driver.

 

[John]

If it is a pilot, and is successful, I would imagine it would be rolled out to the rest of the UK.

This sounds like the best solution for reporting this kind of thing in future in this example of dangerous driving...

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

If you see someone driving badly, and you're the sort of person who gets off on reporting them, by all means contact the police, however please do not ring 999 to do it, follow the advise given by the police and ring the non critical number or go to a police station.

Truly??

Nick Im unsure if you are job or not, however when I was on duty last week there were two case's when MOP had 999'd poor driving and resulted in the arrest for drink drive.

My position would be (again unsure if it is that of my service) that if you see driving that falls far below the standard of a careful and competent driver, you call 999. You could be preventing a death.

 

[John]

that falls far below the standard of a careful and competent driver, you call 999. You could be preventing a death.

That's the issue here.

I don't think you can compare this example with a simple 'cut up' or other bad manouvre and is blindly consolidating all types of bad driving with something that is potentially life threatening.

That said, the government website does say reporting dangerous driving to 101 so you are still exercising judgement as to which number to call in future...

 

[br0ke]

One of the companies I do work for require me to call 999 to prove that the phone lines (landline) are documented as being in the correct location in case of an emergency where the caller is unable to give the address.
None of the other main telco's do this and I hate it as I feel I am wasting their resources - but that is in their agreement with the authorities so I follow process.

 

[davidjpowell]

One of the companies I do work for require me to call 999 to prove that the phone lines (landline) are documented as being in the correct location in case of an emergency where the caller is unable to give the address.
None of the other main telco's do this and I hate it as I feel I am wasting their resources - but that is in their agreement with the authorities so I follow process.

IIRC that the initial 999 is answered by BT, - it used to be by the same people that you get through to if you dial 100 for the operator. They then transfer to the approriate service.

This would have been about ten years ago though, so things may have changed.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

Truly??

Nick Im unsure if you are job or not, however when I was on duty last week there were two case's when MOP had 999'd poor driving and resulted in the arrest for drink drive.

My position would be (again unsure if it is that of my service) that if you see driving that falls far below the standard of a careful and competent driver, you call 999. You could be preventing a death.

I think Nick must be a defence lawyer. Next time i get pulled i will employ him to defend me. Just wait for the magistrate to drop off to sleep , and nip out the back door. Case closed.