The Gauteng 10111 police unit is pleading with the community to stop abusing the emergency line and to only use it when there’s a serious emergency.
As South African Police Service front liners, serving an estimated 14.7 million people in Gauteng, the unit senior officer said it is in this regard that they urge people to dial this number only when in a dire situation.
Captain Pinky Tsinyane, communication officer for the Gauteng 10111 Centre said communities, especially children, need to be educated about the importance of 10111 Emergency Line.
Tsinyane claims that they receive a high volume of abusive, hoax and prank calls that are made by both children and adults. “This type of behaviour is making it difficult for the public who need police assistance urgently to get help.
“SAPS condemns such behaviour because it may even cost lives. When the public members call the emergency number responsibly lives will be saved, more crime will be prevented and more suspects will be arrested.”
She added, “Everyone must take precautions that you only call the 10111 emergency line when you are in a life-threatening situation; witness a crime, see something suspicious or someone possibly committing an offence.”
The unit said they have also realised that there are people who call the emergency line several times a day reporting the same incident.
“It is a crime to abuse 10111…use it responsibly,” advised Tsinyane.
“When you call the emergency number, try to be calm, speak clearly and slowly for the telephone operator to assist you faster. Give the telephone operator your contact number, full address where the incident is happening and the type of incident and if possible provide the description of the nearest landmarks such as post office, shops or clinic especially where there are no proper addresses. Our members will attend to all the complaints as soon as possible.”
She said that in some instances when they follow up on some of the calls that are made from the same number many times, parents inform them that a child was playing with the phone.
Details: Pinky Tsinyane 082 461 0964.
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