Police: 90% of triple zero calls not real emergencies

Aussies are clogging up the triple zero emergency line with idiotic questions about television shows and public transport, and endangering the lives of those who desperately need police or medical attention. 

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) says that of the 612,250 triple zero calls received in 2017, 89.4 per cent were not genuine emergencies.

While some of the calls were pranks, others included inane questions about when police drama Blue Heelers was coming back on TV, while others called the line trying to order a pizza. 

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the calls “could make the difference between life and death” and urged people to remember that “any misuse of the service is a criminal offence and can put people’s lives in danger”.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, some of the other ridiculous calls to triple zero include: 

• A caller asking “What day is it? … I’ve just woken up.”
• A caller reporting a person playing loud music on the train
• A man asking the call taker to guess their name and serial number

QPS has launched a new social media campaign to tackle the nuisance calls and educate Aussies on when to call 000 and when to use the non-emergency police phone line instead. 

“The influx of non-emergency calls ties up our police operators and we need to allow for genuine emergencies to ring true,” Stewart said. “Noise complaints and break-ins where offenders are no longer present are common non-urgent triple zero calls. While these are of great concern to police, they are not a matter for triple zero.”

“If a crime’s happening now, call triple zero. If not, think Policelink.”

Stewart urged members of the public no report non-emergencies via the Policelink app, fill out online forms on the website www.police.qld.gov.au or call the non-emergency police line 131 444.

Police are also trying to educate the public about what information needs to be relayed to the triple zero operator if they find themselves in an emergency.

According to QPS, callers should use the following instructions when calling triple zero: 

• When you call triple zero, a Telstra operator will ask if you need police, fire or ambulance. If you state “police”, you will then be transferred an operator.
• As calls can be received from Communications Centres anywhere in the state, the most critical piece of information is the location where the assistance is required.
• Stay on the line, stay calm, speak clearly and answer the operator’s questions.
• Do not hang up until the operator says it’s okay to do so.

Making a prank or nuisance call to the triple zero number is classed as a Commonwealth Offence and falls under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Telecommunications Offences). The maximum penalty for making improper emergency calls is three years imprisonment. 

Do you think there should be harsher punishments for people who make time-wasting calls to the police force?