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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call the police again

26 replies

CiaoMay · 22/12/2019 06:31

I was woken up by screaming and a woman shouting help me. Ran straight to my window but couldn't see anything for a while (we live near town and opposite a pub so I'm used to hearing screaming and shouting but this was different). I then saw a woman being grabbed at by a man she was clearly trying to get away from who was saying "please don't be like this" (car was going past at this point) then when the car passed he headbutted her and she fell to the ground. I screamed which made my baby wake up and scream and woke my husband - the woman got up and ran and the guy ran in the opposite direction.
I tried to call the police but the phone wasn't answered. I then called 101 but the phone wasn't answered so I've ended up leaving a crimestoppers report but I can't get back to sleep and can't stop thinking about the poor woman.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 22/12/2019 06:33

If this has happened in the last few minutes definitely call 999

Bowerbird5 · 22/12/2019 06:34

That sounds awful. At least you have tried OP. The police will be very busy unusual not to answer though. Hopefully she got away from him.

bohemia14 · 22/12/2019 06:35

You rang 999and no-one answered?

UncomfortableSilence · 22/12/2019 06:42

How can no one answer 999? That doesn't seem right?

Clangus00 · 22/12/2019 06:52

OP didn’t phone 999, she phoned 101

couchparsnip · 22/12/2019 06:55

You should have called 999. If you did and it wasn't answered then that's a worry. Crime stoppers is just an information line.

malmi · 22/12/2019 06:55

She called "the police" before calling 101. To me that means 999

TheLittleBrownFox · 22/12/2019 06:55

She tried to call the police 101. I assume the former was 999.

That's chronic underfunding of emergency services for you Xmas Sad

NoBlueXmasLightsAllowed · 22/12/2019 06:56

Why didn't you just stay on the line until someone answered 999?? A woman has been assaulted yet you don't think this constitutes an emergency? Ffs.

TheLittleBrownFox · 22/12/2019 06:57

My suggestion if it's only been fairly recent is to try 999 again until you get through.

Are you certain they've both properly left?

malmi · 22/12/2019 06:57

Also write a detailed account of what you saw, including descriptions and clothing, whilst it's fresh in your mind, in case it's needed for a conviction at some point.

TheLittleBrownFox · 22/12/2019 07:01

@NoBlueXmasLightsAllowed oh give her a break. You have no idea how long she stayed on the line for. She's the one that's there; if the people have gone and the immediate threat over, she may have assessed that it was sensible to clear the obviously under too much strain line for more pressing emergencies. Imagine waiting on getting through to an operator for a heart attack, knowing that somebody who saw something awful but that whose immediate danger has passed is blocking the line.

Aroundnabout1 · 22/12/2019 07:16

Could i ask how many mins you were ringing 999 for without an answer? That's terrifying that no-one answered.

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/12/2019 07:18

I took it to be the local police station, not 999. Next time, op, call 999.

Unescorted · 22/12/2019 07:19

Yes call the police again.

Chances are they will have been picked up on CCTV somewhere, especially if they were in the pub. Even if there is not enough evidence to charge him it will send a message that even if it is really late at night and he thinks no one is about then he is wrong. If that saves one woman from being battered by so dickhead then you have done a very valuable thing. However it may be that she has reported it - in which case your corroborating evidence will be invaluable.

Tetran · 22/12/2019 07:38

Of course sometimes 999 calls aren't answered, it's not right obviously but there's only so many call handlers, and a lot of counties don't have fallback procedures in place. If they are exceptionally busy it's sometimes the case that there's physically no one to answer it.

Original poster
CiaoMay · 22/12/2019 23:43

Sorry I wasn't clear, initial call was to 999. Reported now via 101 and hopefully it will help if she comes forward. Total call time to 999 was just over 7 minutes. I don't know why I didn't stay on for longer I just felt sick and shaky after what I'd seen, my baby was crying and that felt like an awfully long time so I thought id have more luck calling 101. By that time they had both gone and I wasn't sure if it constituted an emergency (obviously I know someone being assaulted is an emergency but in terms of calling 999 once it's no longer happening, everyone has gone and you have no descriptions or info is it?) or if I was blocking the line for someone else. I started second guessing myself which is why I posted. Sorry all round I suppose I just got myself in a panicky muddle and posted here for reassurance.

OP posts:
fligglepige · 22/12/2019 23:48

Wow!! Sorry you had such a fright OP. When I've called 999 they've always picked up straight away. I think 101 was a good choice though given the circumstances, as you point out the altercation was over as far as we know.

HamsterHolder · 22/12/2019 23:57

Sounds like you've done all you can do. It'll be helpful as if the women comes forward with a report herself then the police know you can be a witness, might actually have a chance at prosecution!

HamsterHolder · 23/12/2019 00:00

Regards taking a while to answer 999 unfortunately if you call at a busy time it can take a while to get through. Two reasons for this, underfunding and stupid people calling for utter nonsense which unfortunately is a massive burden we could do without.

DonutMan · 23/12/2019 00:03

Wow, that's scary to think you could have to wait for 7 mins whilst somebody is seriously injured/bleeding out. I had to call them recently after a colleague knocked himself out on concrete and they answered immediately and arrived in under 5 mins.

RightOnTheEdge · 23/12/2019 00:14

A few years ago I was asleep in bed with my then bf.
Someone got into our ground floor flat and tried to come into the bedroom. My ex threw himself against the bedroom door and they had a shoving match with the door. I was terrified!

I was on the phone to 999 the whole time and no one answered I can't remember exactly what it said but basically we are too busy to answer your call.

Eventually the other person just left so I gave up.

I'm a single mum now and it still haunts me thinking about if it had happened and I'd been alone.

pigsinarow · 23/12/2019 00:17

I have had a 999 call to the police go unanswered twice in a row. It’s horrifically scary, especially as I was calling because I was in danger. I was young when this happened and wish I’d have known how to report it at a later date.
I really hope that woman is ok.

WWlOOlWW · 23/12/2019 00:28

Due to work, we regularly call 101. It can take HOURS to be answered - if at all.

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 23/12/2019 00:29

OP if you are in Lancashire the 999 system was down recently