Mobile phones & the Police - No idea how true the 'story' is but the basic info is worth knowing

[WSM]

Like I say I have no idea how true the story is here but the basic fact of 112 is the bit I thought you'd be interested in...

For those of you who are not aware of 112 ...

WORTH READING. IF YOU CALL 112 ON THE MOBILE THE SCREEN COMES UP WITH ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY CALL?

This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college. This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. It was the Saturday before New Year and it was about 1.00pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An
UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them
never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc.

So Lauren had actually listened to her parents' advice, and promptly called No. 112 on her mobile phone to tell the police dispatcher
that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light
on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't and he told her to keep
driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car
behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground.........the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

The stuff relevant to us

I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently the police have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e., put on your hazard lights) or call No. 112 like Lauren did.

999 is the emergency services.... apparently the 112 number takes you straight to dispatch who can track the marked and unmarked police
cars.... 999 wouldn't be able to be as quick or
knowledgeable.... they probably also wouldn't know what to do if you called them and
questioned them about the car following you....

The story is probably crap but the info regarding 112 is useful, especially for women driving alone.

My goodness how interesting and useful. WSM I will keep this in mind and tell all my friends and of course DD when she is old enough to drive (mind you she knows that is ages away - it is the same age that she will be allowed Chewing Gum too!!)

Oh and apparently you should never be pulled over by a lone policeman - don't know how true that is but have been told that they would not be able to press charges on you for anything cause they would have no proof their word against yours and all that!!

That is really useful to know, especially as I travel on motorways a lot and often it is quite dark and isolated if been working late. Also usually have DD with me too so doubly important.

FIL in a retired police sargeant so will quizz him about it and see if he knows anything about it too.

Will remember 112!!!

I was under the impression that 112 was the european version of 999? So yes, it would make sense - mobiles have to be able to dial both and get through to the same emergency services.

I second the if in any doubt contact police first. A genuine officer would be sympathetic that you were safety concious.

I'm afraid that this looks like an urban myth - started over in the US
www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/policestop.html

breakthechain is always a good site to check for these kind of e-mails that start with the best of intentions

The number seemed like a good idea too.

Here is more info

here

Do you think you sould get fined in a situation like that?

amazing what some people will do the mind boggles as to how empty their lives must be... surely!

WSM and all,

My sister sent me this last week, IT IS NOT TRUE.

there is no central despatcher in the UK, it would be too complicated (my dh develops software or the emergency services, he know these things). All 'unmarked' police cars in this country have a way of clearly making their identity known. (Hidden markings)

Finally, you would be VERY VERY unlikely to get 4 cop cars to a call anywhere in the U.K. in rush mode, the resources just are not there.

Urban myth I'm afraid

112 is an emergency number for mobiles - see link below.

The story is certainly an urban myth though

Oh gosh I'm so sorry if this is yet another urban myth, it seemed fairly credible.

Crikey, I really am the hoax emailers wet dream , aren't I ?!

Hi everyone,

A couple of years ago, at work, we had a talk on personal safety from a police officer and he said that on a motorway never pullover or get out of your car for anything other than a fully marked traffic police car.

WSM, even if it is a myth, there are some great peices of advice that I will take away after reading this thread. Whereas before i may have thought i HAD to stop, i would now get to a public place and explain my reasons. Still very important+

angeliz!!
hello

Hi popsy, we meet at last

pop into lunchtime chat

My mother was trailed by what turned out to be an unmarked police car (think officer was off duty or going home and just wanted to tell her one of her lights was out) and kept going as doesn't pull over for strange men, IYSWIM. Eventually got to a fairly public place (petrol station, I think) and stopped. Officer was quite shirty with her. But senior cop she knows vaguely from a committee told her she'd done the right thing.