‘I’ve got a snake in my garden’: Police release bizarre 999 call in warning to public
Listen to the bizarre moment police receive a 999 call about a snake
It was not quite the kind of emergency West Yorkshire Police had been expecting when the call centre picked up this 999 call.
“I’ve got a snake in my garden, mate,” the caller announced.
Police have released the bizarre call as part of a bid to warn the public that the 999 emergency hotline should only be used for real emergencies.
The force warned that 999 is only situations involving an immediate threat to life, a crime in progress or another emergency requiring urgent police assistance.
In the frank exchange the caller said: “Hello, I’ve got a snake in my garden mate.”
Not quite believing what he had heard the call handler clarified the incident, he coolly said: “You’ve got a snake in the garden?
“ Right okay, well you need to be contacting someone like the RSPCA if you’ve got a snake in your garden don’t you?”
The caller added: “No, I don’t know.”
And the call handler quipped: “Police can’t really. You know there’s a few things that we are trained with but we can’t really deal with snakes I’m afraid my friend.”
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said on social media: “While all calls are assessed carefully, it’s important to remember that 99 should only be used when there is an immediate threat to life, a crime in progress, or an emergency requiring urgent police assistance.
“Before contacting police, please consider whether another agency, organisation or authority may be better placed to help with the issue.
“Calls that do not require an emergency response can take vital time away from people who need urgent help.
“Help us to help you by making the right call.”