Woman Calls Police Over Ice Cream: There Aren't Enough Sprinkles! Says UK Customer (LISTEN)
A woman called the police over ice cream not having enough sprinkles for her liking, according to reports. The U.K. woman contacted West Midlands police's emergency line after arguing with the ice cream vendor, but the authorities simply used the taped phone call to highlight the ridiculous kinds of calls they receive.
The woman who called police over her ice cream was never identified, but her time-wasting call was publicized via YouTube, according to The Birmingham Mail. The West Midlands Police Force Contact team tweeted "999 call from adult female who was reporting an ice cream vendor for not putting enough chocolate sprinkles on her cone… #unbelievable" and a link to the audio.
"It doesn't seem like much of an emergency but it is a little bit because I've ordered an ice cream and he's put bits (sprinkles) on one side and none on the other. He's refusing to give me my money back and saying that I've got to take it like that," the woman told the emergency operator.
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The operator calmly informed the woman that her call was not an emergency and to call the Civil Advice Bureau instead. She also reminded the caller that the 999 line— in the U.S. it's 911— is for "life and death" emergencies only.
Chief Superintendent Jim Andronov, head of the Contact Centre, used the incident as an example of what authorities are constantly bothered with while trying to get police work done.
"Typically West Midlands Police receive over 1,500 calls a day to the 999 number and our operatives have to deal with each one accordingly. Of these … around 50 percent are non-emergency calls where contact is appropriate via the 101 number," he told the Birmingham Mail. "Each call often takes minutes to deal with as staff [has] to clarify the situation - it might not sound like much but, if someone is trying to get through to report a genuine life or death emergency, then a minute is a very long time to wait."
"I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only, for guidance this is defined as: a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened," he added.
Previous ridiculous calls include a U.S. resident calling to ask police where to purchase marijuana, another person contacting authorities because they forgot their Facebook password, and even one U.K. citizen who said he found a hair in his food at a restaurant.
