RCMP plagued by pocket 911 calls

RCMP are dealing with a new type of accident: mistake 911 calls, and you may not know you're dialing it.

"Every month we receive about a dozen false or abandoned 911 calls, often referred to as pocket dialed calls, from cell phones," Cpl. Henry Proce said.

Usually nothing is said and there is no answer on callback from the Dispatch Centre.  Still, police have to follow up as best as possible in the event there might be a true emergency. Statistics show that province wide, the majority of 911 calls are now received from cell phones. This means RCMP have to be diligent about following up any and every call.

"Folks should be careful about presetting 911 on their cell phones," Proce said, adding this  is often the culprit. 

"And if you dial 911 by mistake please speak to the dispatcher and let them know it was dialed my mistake and everything is OK. It will save a lot of time and resources to our officers and emergency staff," Proce said.