Prank calls

Ringing the 999 number and pretending that there is an emergency when there isn't one is known as making a 'prank' call. Some people think that making a prank call is a funny thing to do, but in fact it's a really stupid idea. Why?

If an operator is dealing with a prank call they are not available to help someone who is genuinely phoning about an emergency.

Imagine how you would feel if you rang up about a real emergency and couldn't get an answer straight away.

If the operator doesn't realise that a call is a prank they might send a police officer out to deal with the problem. If the police officer is busy going to a prank call they are not available to go to the real emergency.

You can be traced. When Norfolk Police receive a 999 phone call they are able to find out the number of the phone from which the call is made.

If you ring from a building the police will know which building the call came from, if you ring from a mobile the police can find out who owns the mobile… and if you ring from a public payphone not only will the police be able to find the payphone, you might even be caught on CCTV cameras making the call!

It might seem like a funny thing to do but making a prank 999 call is stupid, dangerous and against the law.

Did you know?

Lots of calls to Norfolk Police are made by mistake when small children play with mobile phones? If you see a small child playing with a mobile phone please make sure that it is switched off so that they don't accidentally send a 999 call when they are playing.