Factual advice from the plod

SteveCase · Post by **SteveCase** » Thu Nov 15, 07 7:04 am

A bit of useful advice - verified by the Dorset Police .
The number does work from a mobile. This actually happened to someone's daughter.
Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college. This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. It was the Saturday before New Year and it was about 1.00pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend, when an UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on.
Lauren's parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc So Lauren remembered her parents' advice, and telephoned 112 from her mobile phone. This connected her to the police dispatcher she told the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her and that she would not pull over right away but wait until she was in a service station or busy area.
The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 police cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her.
One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground...... ..the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes. I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you do not have to pull over for an UNMARKED car.
Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a 'safe' place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them I.e., put on your hazard lights) or call 112 like Lauren did.
Too bad the mobile phone companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful information. So now it's your turn to let your friends know about 112 (112 is an emergency number on your mobile that takes you straight to the police because 999 does not work if you have no signal). This is good information that I did not know!
Please pass on to all your friends, especially any females.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Nov 15, 07 7:41 am

Nice one Steve, be getting my 21 yr old to read this, and her mates too

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Thu Nov 15, 07 8:39 am

Nice one Steve, wonder if Matt could verify this?

Hope plod didnt subsequently nick her for using her mobile while driving

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Nov 15, 07 8:51 am

If you have no signal...how does 112 work and not 999?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:03 am

Dave wrote:If you have no signal...how does 112 work and not 999?

Dont question it Dave just accept it ok!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:05 am

Uh oh, someone put some photo's up quick

bruvmopar · Post by **bruvmopar** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:13 am

Dorset Police,

..

starsk's · Post by **starsk's** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:23 am

cheers steve,
did not know this, i would have pulled over i think,although maybe not as i am aware that the red light would be a bit odd,i obviously own a red light, and the police inform me there is no emergency service that uses a sole red light in the uk,but given the situation you may not think that quick
starsk's

latil · Post by **latil** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:28 am

You be careful,there's one profession that uses a red light.

starsk's · Post by **starsk's** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:29 am

latil wrote:You be careful,there's one profession that uses a red light.

yes but mine flashes

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:30 am

Sound advice, but...........................................
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/issue59.html#five
Clog those Email arteries!!

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:31 am

starsk's wrote:
latil wrote:You be careful,there's one profession that uses a red light.
yes but mine flashes

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:32 am

starsk's wrote:
latil wrote:You be careful,there's one profession that uses a red light.
yes but mine flashes

Sorry my radar went ballistic there....did someone mention red light and flashing in the same thread without informing me!!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:33 am

Blimey, all is not as it seems. . . . .

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Nov 15, 07 9:37 am

Yup. It smelled of hoax as soon as I started reading it. For a start in this country you would never get a response from one police car for at least two hours after the event let alone several within minutes.