NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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South Simcoe Police have responded to four false 9-1-1 calls in the past two days. These dialling errors, often called "pocket dials", occur if people have 9-1-1 on speed dial which is inadvertently pressed, or when a child is allowed to play with a phone.
Sometimes the emergency system is triggered by people improperly dialling overseas calls, or trying to reach directory assistance.
Protocol demands that officers attend every 9-1-1 call we receive. These false calls tie up dispatch and responding officers unnecessarily, drawing resources that could be used elsewhere.
South Simcoe Police are asking that you supervise children around phones, remove 9-1-1 from your speed dial, and dial calls carefully.
If you do call 9-1-1 in error, do not hang up. Stay on the line and explain the mistake to the operator.
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