low graphics version | feedback | help
|
| Front Page |
| World |
| UK |
| England |
| Northern Ireland |
| Scotland |
| Wales |
| UK Politics |
| Business |
| Sci/Tech |
| Health |
| Education |
| Entertainment |
| Talking Point |
| In Depth |
| AudioVideo |
|
About 22 million people have mobile phones in the UK and hundreds of thousands of them make accidental 999 calls every year without even realising it.
 "Have you been sitting on your mobile phone sir?"
|
Police say accidental 999 calls from mobiles increased by more than 75% last year.
They say that over the last two months, they have had to deal with more than 30,000 accidental calls in London alone.
The accidental 999 calls seem to be caused when people who carry their phones in their back pockets accidentally sit on them.
The three digits can also be dialled when phones are carried around in a bag with other heavy objects which knock against the buttons.
999 calls can still be made on mobile phones that have locked key pads.
 Lesley Smith: Phones cannot have an override button
|
"Manufacturers know people need access to 999 very quickly," she told the BBC. "They can't put in a lock that overrides 999."
Police believe that more than half the number of accidental emergency calls could be avoided if people took more care.
They are encouraging mobile phone users to buy hard covers to prevent key pads from being hit accidentally, to carry their mobiles separately or clip them to their belts.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~03~RS~)