Police Shame Pranksters On YouTube

Barence writes "British police are shaming hoax 999 callers and time-wasters on YouTube in an effort to cut down on non-emergency calls. Video clips uploaded include a lady phoning police to ask what year the internet started, the dramatic tale of a man whose wife would only provide salmon sandwiches for lunch, and another worried soul who had lost her glasses and could not see properly to peel potatoes. Anyone else think the chance of YouTube fame is more likely to encourage copycats than educate people about the wrongs of hoax calling?"

Re:TRUFAX.

[LighterShadeOfBlack]

Anyone else think the chance of YouTube fame is more likely to encourage copycats than educate people about the wrongs of hoax calling?

Yes, because there was certainly no such thing as prank phone calls before Youtube came along.

Yes, because that's what the GP said. He said "Youtube will create the concept of prank calling". It's not like he made a valid point about it encouraging idiots to get some 'fame' for themselves, or possibly memeifying the worst calls and making them into regular prank call trolls. Way to miss the point.

Re:Bloody Brilliant Idea

[geekmux]

Is it just me, or is England already well down the spiral towards "What the Fuck are you Thinking, Nation?"

Err...I wouldn't exactly call the Youth of America contenders for the Olympics in the categories of Intelligence and Common Sense.

In the history of Education, I don't think we've had standards any lower. Good thing we're not leaving any children "behind".

Re:Not a bad idea

[EdZ]

The call is free of charge. The fine for abusing the service isn't.

Re:Not a bad idea

[xaxa]

A non-emergency number (101 [101.gov.uk]) was launched a couple of years ago in some areas to try and reduce the number of calls to 999, it's meant to be used for: reporting vandalism and graffiti; noise nuisance; threatening and abusive behaviour; abandoned vehicles; dumping and fly tipping; drunk and rowdy groups; drug related anti-social behaviour; and broken street lighting.

There's also NHS Direct [nhsdirect.nhs.uk] (0845 46 47), for medical non-emergencies.

Perhaps Google could launch a service to cover everything else, with some voice recognition, a Google search and an audio web browser.

*Some* British Police

[Tim C]

From TFA, this appears to be being done only by Avon and Somerset Police. Something most people aren't aware of is that the 43 ("geographical") police forces of England and Wales (there are a number of "non-geographical" ones too, such as British Transport Police) are essentially separate companies. Or at least they were 2 years ago when I was working on a project to assist in inter-force information sharing.

The point being that you'll very often find a given force doing something that none of the rest are, as apparently is the case here. So yes, "British police" are doing this, but only in two counties.

Re:Brilliant...

[TheRaven64]

Did you listen to the clips? The two linked ones were both elderly ladies, not '14 year old twits,' They didn't sound like crank calls, just people genuinely not understanding what 999 is for (or even what the police are for, in one case).

Re:Bloody Brilliant Idea

[meringuoid]

Throwing a homeowner in jail for shooting perps that broke into his house, while said perps with long rap sheets get off?

If you're referring to Tony Martin: his house was burgled, he confronted the burglars, and they fled. He then fired upon them as they were running away. He was not at this point acting in defence of himself or his property; this aim had already been achieved, with the burglars now leaving the premises. He opened fire anyway.

Brendan Fearon, who had been wounded, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for burglary. Fred Barras was too dead to stand trial. Tony Martin was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, later commuted to five years for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his paranoid personality disorder.

Re:Bloody Brilliant Idea

[Tim C]

Thanks - you made the same point I was going to, but supplied more information than I would have done.

Bottom line is that self-defence is ok, but Tony Martin was not acting in self-defence.

Re:Bloody Brilliant Idea

[commodoresloat]

If it was true that he had been burgled several times (the police didn't seem to think so of course), then why should he have to scare them away each time?

I'm sorry, but convenience is not a good reason for a citizen to use deadly force.

In America this wouldn't have been given a second look by the press

Yes it would have; gun nuts would have been all over it just like you are. Remember Bernie Goetz [wikipedia.org]? That guy was lionized for shooting some kids on a subway for allegedly trying to rob him. Hell this guy is still giving interviews in the press almost a quarter century later.

Re:Bloody Brilliant Idea

[abstract daddy]

You're doing it wrong.

Re:Not a bad idea

[Jellybob]

I've been attacked in the street 3 times over the last four years, and not once have the police done anything about it.

The last time it happened I was actually told by the police operator that despite the people who did it still being in a group down the road, they couldn't send anyone just now, because they were all at one other incident. I was asked to wait, which I did for half an hour. At that point I gave up, went home, and got a call back from them three days later to get details.

I know plenty of other people that's happened to, and several people who have been hospitalised due to random attacks in the street.

clowns

[julian67]

I had the misfortune to work on the phone in a UK police force's operations room. A memorable call: An old man called, sounding shocked and very upset indeed. He wanted to report being assaulted. He asked me if I'd seen the nearby circus. I confirmed I had, having noticed it the day before while out on my bicycle. Despite having recently completed my diversity training I immediately thought of all those nomadic, thieving, rough, stop at nothing, gypsy types, with swarthy complexions, switchblades and unwashed hair. I pictured the poor old man being relieved of his wallet and candyfloss at knifepoint and, assuming my most professional and concerned tone, asked him to continue. He explained that he had been to the circus the previous evening and was sitting in the front row when one of the clowns threw cold water over him. I didn't directly call him a stupid miserable old bastard but I think he got the message. I've also taken a call from a woman who wished to report that the milkman when making his early morning deliveries allowed the glass milk bottles to clang together noisily in order to cause harassment/annoyance to the caller. Referred caller to dairy. Seriously the UK is overflowing with fucking idiots. people call the police because the kitchen tap is dripping, the TV remote control doesn't work, their cable TV reception has worsened or any other trivial crap that might count as an emergency if you have the mental age and outlook of a retarded 4 year old. The flipside is the idiots who call the non-emergency number, wait in a queue for a while, and when connected announce they're watching someone being stabbed/beaten/robbed and so on. I guess at least they tried to help instead of doing nothing.

Re:Not a bad idea

[BitwiseX]

dumping and fly tipping;

fly tipping? I live in Virginia USA, and have done plenty of cow tipping... Fly tipping sounds ALOT more challenging. You brits are crazy!