How many times have you called the police?

[TommyNever]

Just a thread out of curiosity. I'm middle aged and have found cause to call the police four times in my life so far.

Once for an attempted burglary, once late at night when a woman in the street was screaming for help, and twice for street fights outside my house, when I lived in an unsavoury part of town.

Is that a more or less than average tally for the Mumsnet readership?

Once because a distressed man was sitting on the edge of a railway bridge.

A few times with me too.
2 x man walking down the freeway
Screaming drunk woman trying to escape car and drunk husband (who has been driving but stopped for lights) throwing her back in and poor young child screaming with fright
Man clearing stalking woman - was able to send photo of him in crouched position behind bushes watching her front door

I've tried to get through to 101 unsuccessfully a couple of times to report anti social behaviour, and actually got through only once.

DH once phoned them because there was a police helicopter going over late at night and he saw a man sprint past our house. Made me howl at the time as he said "I've just seen a man run past my house fully clothed" as opposed to naked

I’d say 10? I grew up on a rough estate so we often called when someone was being beaten up in the front garden etc.

I called 999 once, about kids playing with fireworks. Police never came, they called me back later for a witness statement as a teenager later died.

Never 999 but I've called 101 a fair few times before.

3 or 4 times when vulnerable DS went through a phase of running away from home late at night when he was 13/14

Twice for neighbour over the road because I saw him driving when I knew he was on a ban for killing someone in an accident.

Once to report a burnt out car blocking a country lane. They said they couldn't so anything without the number plate. The number plate had been burnt off.

Once, about 20 years ago, when we'd been burgled. I'm 64

Oh and I forgot... when we found my back door handle destroyed and a load of tools outside, obviously disturbed attempting to break on to our house.

I've called 999 twice - both for violence / fights

I've called 111 once when my husband went missing.

All three times police have responded quickly and helpfully.

the local police station l called when to report antisocial behaviour once but never 999 for police

At work, loads of times. (London Underground) My opinion of the British Transport Police is not good.
At other times, may be 3 or 4 times.
I've reported thefts to 101 online (Met police). Nothing ever comes of it.

I used to call them quite often for work related matters. the pinnacle was a man obviously mentally ill who turned up waving a MACHETE and saying he had decided to kill his neighbour! He'd been moaning about neighbour nuisance for months.. he didn't want to attack me but "simply wanted me to admire how sharp and shiny his weapon was after he'd spent all morning getting it ready"

I told him it looked fantastic and to put it away before he blunted the blade waving it about.. and thank god.he did. Called police as soon as he left and he was arrested at the bus stop. Only cried after he had walked out the room and doctor signed me.off for 2 weeks for stress. ( He was sectioned)

only once, non emergency, for a neighbour who has severe mental health issues and a drinking problem and was throwing things into the road and screaming at passing cars

Only once when I saw someone trying to end their life.

I’m in my 30s and have called the police once.

It was bonfire night and some teenagers were deliberately setting off fireworks into a crowd of people.

Twice. Once as a teen when my mum's violent bf was being violent. Police came, bf answered the door and told them I was making it up and they nodded and left. Can imagine how that went down with him.

Second last year when someone was actively trying to break in, was told to call back if he actually got in. Luckily he didn't.

Fantastic parrot on the washing line is a very Pythonesque offering for Scotland Yard.

I imagine there are some detectives who still remember that one.

I've called the non emergency police a few times

Found a substantial knife behind a garden wall

Got mugged for my phone and needed a crime number

Car got broken into and some stuff stolen, needed a crime number. They actually found a cigarette but in the car, forensics got involved and turned out he was known and had previous and was arrested

Kids ducking about on the roof of my local train station which looked like it was about to fall through

Found a load of number plates next to my car

Have called 999 four times twice for fire and twice for my kids with

Twice - once for a man screaming at a woman in the street outside our flat in London. Police were there very quickly.
Second was the local station as I hadn’t heard our neighbour for days and she didn’t answer her door (she’s elderly) and her dog was barking and barking. They came round that evening as well and she was fine.

Once when an abusive boyfriend attempted to attack me with a screwdriver

You handled that well in the circumstances. Very traumatic.

I called the non-emergency line a few times for antisocial behaviour in the middle of the night outside when I lived somewhere grim but for 999 I’ve only ever called for an ambulance.

Once - I was in Sainsbury's and a car pulled up next to me in the parents and toddlers bay. I clocked it because I was talking to my toddler in the back and noticed they didn't have a child in the car. A woman was in the driving seat and the man grabbed and started licking her face. I thought 'ergh gross' as it was so out of place. He then grabbed her by the hair and smashed her face on the steering wheel. She looked out at me with blood coming out her nose and gave me the strangest look I have ever seen. I was pulling out at the time and was at a loss as to what to do to help her. I was also quite frightened. I pulled over and called the police. They called me later to say he was arrested and I gave a statement. I have heard nothing since. That poor woman.

Never called but once reported on police website when I witnessed a teenager being subjected to homophobic abuse from a gang of similar age lads (walked him home so he was safe first). Had an email telling me I couldn't report it as I wasn't the victim but they backed down once I pointed out that as a hate crime anyone could report it.

Never a 999, just a 101 once when my number plates were stolen.

Never, although someone else called them on my behalf after I was attacked at a bus stop by a druggie trying to steal my bag.