Ajman Police have started an awareness campaign for residents on the proper use of emergency number 999. The authority revealed that most of the calls they receive on 999 are non-emergency, which keep the line busy. Thus people in an emergency have to wait longer to get the help they need.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hisham Abd Allah Abu Shihab, director of police operations at the Ajman Police, said, “Many people call 999 for silly reports or non-emergency matters.” These include reporting about wrong parking, knowing the location of a business, and even complaining about their maids.
He explained that the emergency number 999 is available to report traffic accidents, thefts, attacks, any risk to the safety of a person as well as general security.
The police urge all residents to call 901 for non-emergency matters. This number is open throughout the day, seven days a week, and people can genuinely register complaints about parking and any illegal activities happening around them.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hisham also pointed out that the non-emergency 901 number can receive different calls simultaneously, as it uses a smart answering machine. It means anyone who calls this number gets an automated response to either following the pre-given instructions or talk to the operator.
A report tells that last year, Dubai Police received 75% non-emergency calls on 999, which shows most of the residents have problems distinguishing between emergency and non-emergency numbers.
Source and Image: KhaleejTimes