Quick-thinking North East call handlers have helped save lives as silent or unusual calls tipped them off to people in serious danger.
This week, a terrified woman's call to "order pizza" has hit headlines, after she managed to alert police in North Yorkshire that she was in danger on a bus, cleverly leading to an arrest.
Though the call was an unusual one, it's far from the first time that 999 teams have helped people who can't speak on the call. In this region, emergency responders have been able to ensure people get the help they need even when they're not able to describe where they are or what's going on.
Read more: The dangerous North East stalkers who made exes' lives hell
Here are just a few examples of how people have been rescued from serious danger after call handlers 'used their instincts' to understand that something was wrong:
Chilling silent call alerted police to thug's brutal attack
Overhearing a 'brutal and cowardly' attack in which part of a woman's ear was bitten off, Northumbria Police call handlers were able to send in officers to save her from her violent ex - even though she wasn't able to speak to them.
In 2019, 'violent thug' Christopher Jackson, then 31, was jailed for assaulting his ex-girlfriend less than a month after a restraining order against him had expired. He had already spent eight weeks behind bars for attacking her, but just over a year later he visited her home in a delusional bid to win her back.
When she turned him away, Jackson launched a brutal attack in which he punched, kicked and stamped on her until she was lying unconscious in her home. Fortunately, the victim had been able to make a silent 999 call during the assault and police soon arrived on scene to arrest Jackson.
Jackson, of Split Crow Road, Gateshead, was later charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for seven years and four months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Darren Davies said: "This was a brutal and cowardly attack by a man who was far stronger than his victim and used that power to inflict horrific injuries upon her. He is a despicable human being who, like many perpetrators of domestic abuse, tried to apportion blame to his victim for his behaviour...
"Thankfully, the victim was able to dial 999 as Jackson began to lose his temper, meaning that emergency services were quickly on scene to get her to hospital. I want to praise her for the bravery she has shown throughout these proceedings and I hope she can sleep more easily at night knowing her attacker is in prison.
"Jackson is a violent thug who deserves to be behind bars and I am delighted with the sentence handed down by the judge at court."
Call handler 'used her instincts' to save man who can't speak
In Feburary 2019 Stephen McClaren, 63, called 999 in terror after he'd begun to cough up blood. But Stephen, who had recently had his larynx removed, was unable to talk and couldn't ask for the ambulance he needed. Luckily, Cleveland Police call handler Kathryn Longstaff realised something was wrong and was able to discover he needed an ambulance by asking yes/no questions he could respond to by tapping.
She dispatched paramedics to his home and he was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital for life-saving emergency treatment.
After meeting the hero call handler who saved his life, Stephen told TessideLive: "I would like to thank Kathryn from the bottom of my heart. I would also like to thank the two officers who looked after me when they arrived at the scene, they were so reassuring.
"When they arrived I was feeling really ill and shaky, then we made eye contact for a few moments and the shaking stopped. I wouldn't be here today if I wasn't for Kathryn alerting officers and the medical services, I can't thank them enough."
Stephen's daughter, Kendra McManus, added: "Kathryn has saved my dad's life, she is a true life hero and it has been amazing to be able to thank her in person. Without Kathryn my dad would not be here today and we will be eternally grateful."
Kathryn said: "When I answered the call, I was just doing what I have been trained to do and I used my instincts and experience to communicate with him. [Meeting the family was] a very emotional day for all involved and knowing I have saved someone’s life is a feeling I can’t explain, I am just so happy that Stephen got the medical help he needed to keep him alive."
Durham call handlers save a woman 3,000 miles away
In February this year, Durham Constabulary’s quick-thinking control room team helped save a woman in danger more than 3,000 miles away in Canada. Unable to speak on the phone, a terrified woman had managed to find the Durham police 'live chat' facility online after an intruder had attacked her at home.
But the Durham force she'd found was based in North East England, not that of the Durham Regional Police Service in the province of Ontario. All the distraught victim was able to type was 'I need help, he is going to come, he is in the house', before communication was cut off.
But that was enough for the Durham Constabulary team.
Realising she meant to contact a different Durham force, the calm call handler kept the chat open, while colleagues managed to find the right force. Canadian officers were sent to the scene in the town of Ajax and found a 35-year-old man inside the house.
The suspect fled but was eventually cornered and arrested, approximately 30 minutes after his victim first contacted police on the other side of the Atlantic. The rescued woman received medical attention for her injuries, while her attacker was charged with a string of offences including breaking and entering and assault.
Inspector Andrea Arthur, head of the force control room, said: “This was an unusual incident and a very distressing situation for the victim, but the team remained calm and managed to help our Canadian colleagues resolve the situation quickly and professionally.
“If we can assist in rescuing a vulnerable victim in immediate danger, regardless of where they live, we will do all we can to help. In this case, we’re glad to learn there has been an arrest and, more importantly, the victim is out of danger and receiving the help she needs.
“Our call handlers deal with hundreds of contacts from members of the public each day, some of them more straightforward than others, and always do their best to serve the public, wherever they may be.”
If you need emergency help and can't speak, the best way to contact police is:
- Dial 999 from your mobile and press 55 when prompted .
This immediately alerts the police to the fact you are in a genuine emergency.
- Callers need to listen and respond to questions and instructions, including by coughing or tapping the handset if possible, or if using a mobile phone, once prompted by the automated Silent Solution system, pressing 55.
