BBC news just now.. call 999 before you start filming an incident

[OUwhatnext]

I'm gobsmacked the police have had to put out a message asking the public to phone 999 before they start posting videos and pictures onto social media. They were talking about the Westminster attack. Wtf is wrong with society if this message is needed? This kind of thing makes me want to delete all social media and buy a nokia 3310.

@OUwhatnext

I agree. I watched thinking WTF wrong with people today. It's bad enough that people seemed to no longer go to a attraction for seeing it but rather it being a photo opportunity.

I also think these same people would be the ones shouting the loudest if they were on the receiving end of what every event is happening.

The police so'metimes ask for mobile footage, so people might be filming thinking they are doing something useful (though they are the people whose footage does not go up on social media - it is simply sent to the relevant authorities if they want it)

It's very easy to do very stupid things after an incident, because you don't think straight. Checking that someone has called 999, or calling yourself (multiple calls for same incident is OK) is important. And possible to overlook, no matter how ridiculous that might seem

I agree footage can be very useful for the police. But surely your first priority would be to phone the police, not livestream it on Facebook and hope a copper sees it!

It's all a bit Black Mirror isn't it.

I also worry about people's right to some dignity.
If I had been in an accident I don't think that I would like someone I don't know have the footage if that.
Not right.

I find it abhorrent that people film others in distress for what, likes? #makingmemories? As another poster said what about the victims dignity, their suffering is not entertainment. Whilst I can see the argument for filming to show police how many people are actually doing it for that reason. If I ever was near an accident/incident my first reaction would never be to reach for my camera.

Do you not think “has anyone else phoned?” And then worry about phoning about something the police already know about?

Chickenish, the police said this morning they want multiple 999 calls in those situations as it helps them to assess how big the incident is. I'd not thought of it like that before tbh.

Yes multiple 999 calls can be a good thing as it sometimes highlight the level of seriousness

I'm not surprised. Nothing about this country surprises me anymore.

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me really,but I'm astounded that people honk it's ok to film this sort of stuff before calling the emergency services.

Honk! FFS, THINK,it should have said!

I once witnessed someone being attacked in the street. I knew could see/hear someone on the phone to 999 so I did film it. I felt pretty bloody ghoulish doing it but somewhere in my head I thought it might be useful. I sent it to the police after (definitely did not stick it online) and they said thanks. I’ve no idea if it was helpful as they never contacted me again (despite me saying I was happy to be a witness etc) but they didn’t tell me off, so I didn’t feel awful about it. I suppose if someone had seen me filming an attack they’d think I was being awful but honestly, it was just that I wanted to do something and it was the first thing I could think of that might be useful. Obviously 999 is the most important thing but would multiple calls about a bar fight (albeit a pretty serious one) have helped? I don’t know.

Basically - I’m a good person and was filming to try and help, honest!