Silent 999 Calls are sometimes emergencies

The Police often receive 999 calls where the call handler is met with silence.

Often these are from pocket dials or hoax calls, but sometimes there's more than meets the eye... 

Like last week when a call was received (by Cambridgeshire Police) a silent 999 call, where a faint breathing sound could be heard down the line. 

After trying to engage with the caller, it was clear that they couldn't, or didn't feel safe to talk. The operator asked the caller to press 55 on their keypad if they needed help but were unable to speak... and immediately, they did. 

Through taps on the caller's phone's keypad, the call handler was able to decipher that the caller was in danger, and was hurt as a result of domestic violence. They also found out where they were, and that the suspect was still nearby - which is why they didn't feel safe to talk.

The caller didn't have to say a word, but was able to communicate with police in silence through timed taps on their keypad. Officers were immediately dispatched to the caller, who received the help they needed. 

Even if you can't talk - we can help you. If you're in danger but can't speak openly, still call us on 999 - just press 55 on the keypad when promoted by the operator. Always try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. If it's not safe to, you may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions. 

Learn more about how to make a silent call to the police here: https://orlo.uk/28hRW