As a call handler, did you find it tough hearing about so many emergencies in a day (and never knowing the outcome?)
Honestly, the majority of calls we get are 101 calls rather than 999 and even then not all 999 calls are genuine emergencies. It is definitely tough listening to someone who is in the middle of something though. You're just a voice at the end of a phone and you have to try and keep them calm and get information from them. I would keep an eye on jobs through my shift to see what was happening and most of the time was able to see the outcome of the call, but I never got to find out the result of any subsequent investigation.
I think it's hard to listen to what's happening because your imagination starts filling in the blanks. Thankfully most of the time my imagination was worse than what officers discovered on arrival.
What was the ratio of people requesting police, ambulance or fire service?
People came through to me after already requesting police so I don't know the answer to that question unfortunately. When you call 999 you get put through to an operator who asks what service you require. They're based all over the country and they will then put you through to whatever local service you require. If you don't (or can't) say anything or they can't understand you (don't speak English or just screaming) they'll put you through to your local police force. And if you request more than one service they put you through to police.
Do you instinctively know that someone is trouble? And if you do, are you allowed to discreetly check on those people?
I'd say yes - I don't how to explain it but sometimes something just doesn't sit right and you just know that you can't just walk away, or not make attempts to call back. Obviously if you think someone is in trouble, discreet is often the best way to go anyway because you don't want to make things worse for them (things like domestic violence etc).
What's the worst call you have ever dealt with?
A toddler who got ran over. She didn't make it.
Do you work in London?
If so, do you feel like the figures gathered for stabbings are realistic?
Is a lot unreported?
I don't work in London but I know recently the force I do work in has had some stabbings. The majority have not made it into national news which makes me wonder whether the "increase" in relation to London is more an increase in reporting. I think it's likely to be a bit of both in that there's potentially been an increase in knife crime but also an increase in it making national news which is making it seem like more, if that makes sense?