A woman dialed 999 to report a theft - of a snowman outside her house. Police said she thought it demanded their involvement because she had used pound coins for the eyes and teaspoons for the arms. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
The woman, from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chatham</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Kent</st1:country-region></st1:place>, has been "spoken to" by officers to advise her about what constitutes a real emergency. <o:p></o:p>
Kent Police issued a transcript of the "completely irresponsible" call which they received overnight as they fielded thousands of calls from people because of the sub-zero conditions. <o:p></o:p>
In the call, the woman tells the operator: "There's been a theft from outside my house. "I haven't been out to check on him for five hours but I went outside for a fag and he's gone." <o:p></o:p>
The operator asks "Who's gone?" and the woman replies: "My snowman. <o:p></o:p>
"I thought that with it being icy and there not being anybody about, he'd be safe." <o:p></o:p>
The incredulous operator asks her: "Do you mean an ornament?" The woman replies: "No, a snowman made of snow, I made him myself. <o:p></o:p>
"It ain't a nice road but you don't expect anybody to nick your snowman." <o:p></o:p>
The operator then tells her that it is an emergency line and she should not be ringing it to report the theft of a snowman. <o:p></o:p>
Chief Inspector Simon Black, from Kent Police's force contact and control centre, said: "This call could have cost someone's life if there was a genuine emergency and they couldn't get through. <o:p></o:p>
"It was completely irresponsible. We have spoken to her and advised her as to what is a 999 call, and this clearly was not." <o:p></o:p>
Kent Police has received more than 8,000 general and 999 calls in 48 hours, double the number it normally receives. <o:p></o:p>
Mr Black said: "We do have powers to prosecute people for misusing the 999 system, but in this case the woman genuinely thought this was a theft that she should report because she'd used pound coins for the eyes and teaspoons for the arms."<o:p></o:p>
It just sums up what's happening this week. My other half is a community bobby and he's spent most of the week going to idiots houses who've reported snowballs thrown at them or there houses!! They all think they've been targeted personally!! Get a life a let them get on with real policing :-(
i have had a lad come up to the ambulance saying that he is having a heart attack and needs a lift home to recover. My reply was
"Your standing up and talking to me. i have just watched you finish your drink and walk over to me. If you are having a heart attack you will be going to hospital not home. Ambulance is not Latin for taxi!!! Jog on!"
wheres the spirit of goodwill gone? i dont know - if there was still bobbies on the beat we would not be in this sort of mess...does anyone know if she got her man back?!
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