- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,291
Check out the recording of the call
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7489457.stm
Police say UFO was just the Moon
Police called out to a 999 call about an unexplained object in the night sky solved the mystery straight away for their operator - "it's the Moon, over."
But the emergency call meant the officers were sent out to a house in the valleys area of south Wales.
They were told a "bright stationary object" was spotted above the unnamed caller's home. A recording of the call has been released as part of a police campaign asking people to use 999 appropriately.
The Control Room conversation, which took place in May, was recorded - and below is a transcript:
Control Room: "South Wales Police, what's your emergency?"
Caller: "It's not really. I just need to inform you that across the mountain there's a bright stationary object."
Control room: "Right."
Caller: "If you've got a couple of minutes perhaps you could find out what it is? It's been there at least half an hour and it's still there."
Control: "It's been there for half an hour. Right. Is it actually on the mountain or in the sky?"
Caller: "It's in the air."
Control: "I will send someone up there now to check it out."
Caller: "OK."
The mystery was soon solved, as the exchange between control and an officer at the scene, makes clear.
Control: "Alpha Zulu 20, this object in the sky, did anyone have a look at it?"
Officer: "Yes, it's the moon. Over."
Control room staff have also had to with a stream of unsuitable calls made on the 999 number during an "extremely busy period", said a spokesman. Another caller rang asking for help when they wanted to vote for Rhydian on the TV programme X-Factor. Another wanted a pound for their supermarket trolley.
Following the calls, South Wales Police has changed the way it answers the phone. Instead of saying "South Wales Police, how can I help?", control room staff now say "South Wales Police what is your emergency?"
Since the change, they have reported a 10% drop in 999 calls.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7489457.stm
Police say UFO was just the Moon
Police called out to a 999 call about an unexplained object in the night sky solved the mystery straight away for their operator - "it's the Moon, over."
But the emergency call meant the officers were sent out to a house in the valleys area of south Wales.
They were told a "bright stationary object" was spotted above the unnamed caller's home. A recording of the call has been released as part of a police campaign asking people to use 999 appropriately.
The Control Room conversation, which took place in May, was recorded - and below is a transcript:
Control Room: "South Wales Police, what's your emergency?"
Caller: "It's not really. I just need to inform you that across the mountain there's a bright stationary object."
Control room: "Right."
Caller: "If you've got a couple of minutes perhaps you could find out what it is? It's been there at least half an hour and it's still there."
Control: "It's been there for half an hour. Right. Is it actually on the mountain or in the sky?"
Caller: "It's in the air."
Control: "I will send someone up there now to check it out."
Caller: "OK."
The mystery was soon solved, as the exchange between control and an officer at the scene, makes clear.
Control: "Alpha Zulu 20, this object in the sky, did anyone have a look at it?"
Officer: "Yes, it's the moon. Over."
Control room staff have also had to with a stream of unsuitable calls made on the 999 number during an "extremely busy period", said a spokesman. Another caller rang asking for help when they wanted to vote for Rhydian on the TV programme X-Factor. Another wanted a pound for their supermarket trolley.
Following the calls, South Wales Police has changed the way it answers the phone. Instead of saying "South Wales Police, how can I help?", control room staff now say "South Wales Police what is your emergency?"
Since the change, they have reported a 10% drop in 999 calls.
