Kimberley RCMP is being plagued by abandon 911 calls.

This past weekend over one-third of the calls for service were false 911 calls, reported Kimberley RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Chris Newel.

This can be time consuming and it takes officers away from other duties, he said.

“Most calls are made inadvertently or are pocket dials. If a call is made the dispatcher will attempt to contact to confirm what has taken place and what emergency service is required. If the dispatcher is unable to make contact, either because there is no answer or subscriber information is not available, it is assigned to an officer to follow up. The officer initiates an investigation to locate the caller; this can time consuming,” Newel explained.

“If it comes from a business or residence, the officer will attend and speak to the occupants to confirm everyone is safe. As well, the police may search the building, again to ensure everyone’s safety. If the call comes from a cell phone it becomes a little more complex as the location may not be known. Sometimes there is an alternate number police will phone in an attempt to track you down. Again, very time consuming and can take hours to follow up,” Newel said, offering some tips the public can follow to help cut down on the volume of abandoned calls.

To limit these accidental calls, please lock your phone.

If you inadvertently dial 911, stay on the line and explain the mistake. If the dispatcher calls; answer so confirmation can be made you are safe.

e-KNOW

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