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The Tokyo Metropolitan Police department on Thursday released the results of a report that concluded the number of so-called “invalid complaints” – primarily prank or silent phone calls - lodged to the emergency police telephone number 110 made up over 20% of all calls to the number for the second year in a row.
Police say they recorded about 29,922 such calls in 2011. Officials say the March earthquake and tsunami disaster and its effects probably play a role in the dramatic increase, TV Asahi reported.
The numbers for such calls dropped three years running beginning in 2007 before spiking to 33,116 in 2010 – a 10-year high. The report also notes that the majority of the 2011 invalid complaints were prank phone calls.
A police spokesman warned that prank callers are sometimes charged with obstructing justice, and urged people to use the number only for real emergencies.
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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Godan
Actually saw a guy do this the other day. He went to a payphone in front of a 7-11, pushed 110 and then waited, got someone, and hung up. Picked the phone up again and did the same. He wasn't all there, fer sure.
Wonder how many of these "prank calls" (should be a crime, IMHO) were done on pay phones? Not that many exist anymore, but it may be time to pull the plug on them if there are being abused in such a way.
Mirai Hayashi
They had this on the news a while back. Apparently, a lot of elderly people call 110 and 119 to ask for favors like asking the police to take them to the supermarket, or often call because they just need someone to talk to. It's really sad! I think if the Jgov had more programs for the elderly and the mentally ill, things like this won't happen.
some14some
true, so looking at Japan's elderly population prank calls are not high.
ebisen
This should/can be an emergency if the person calling is so depressed he/she it contemplating suicide for example... I wouldn't classify these calls as "pranks"...
Mirai Hayashi
@ebisen
Emergency numbers are just that, numbers you call in case there is an emergency. They should never be used because you need companionship, because they're depressed, or as a suicide hot line. There should be other numbers to call for that, and I think there are.
Think about out it, if you or a loved one was having a heart attack and you couldn't get through because someone was tying up the line because they were lonely and needed someone to talk to, it wouldn't be too cool. someone could die because of that. Although not a prank, and I really do feel for the elderly who have to spend the rest of their lives alone, using these lines as a means for companionship takes away from someone who might be in danger or in an immediate life or death situation.
smithinjapan
If they KNOW the number of the caller they should charge them with obstruction in EVERY CASE. If an ambulance or fire engine or police or what have you get dispatched to check it out, and another crime/emergency occurs at that time (by that I mean ACTUAL emergency), they should be charged with a whole lot more. They should also get MASSIVE fines.
tmarie
often call because they just need someone to talk to. It's really sad! I think
Perhaps if they were nicer to people - like family - they would have people to talk to?
That being said, I thought all the bored ones went to the clinic to chat?
anglootaku
lol most likely teens
Herve Nmn L'Eisa
Fraudulent calls should result in actual fines, and this includes ambulance calls for non-medical emergencies. There's an old woman down my street who calls for an ambulance nearly everyday. Is she just lonely? Possibly. In which case placement in a "silver home" would be a good idea and probably cheaper, and reduce nuisance calls.
Elbuda Mexicano
Horrible to hear this about pranks, when we have a major disaster and many fire trucks, ambulances etc..get destroyed like up in Tohoku in Macho of 2011, the last thing anybody needs is PRANK CALLS!
Yubaru
The police need to put a stop to this, instead of running those public service ad's on TV the cops should be warning people that if they don't call with a true emergency that they face prosecution.
kaminarioyaji
To Tokyo Metropolitan Police Dept - if someone called and said "I am Makoto Hirata, and I want to turn myself in", that wasn't a prank call.
catiano
I have heard about a house wife calling 110 because she had a big argument with her husband. People can call 110 easily also when they want someone to speak with, or just want to have fun hanging up as soon as the phone is taken.
Look at those customers at Japanese stores or service companies. They are very rude and selfish, while the store clerks are always humiliated and self-denial. That has spoiled the people to be selfish and ignorant 2 year old kids.
This can happen to all generations. The middle-aged people or older are selfish. Stupid teenagers or 20 yr olds might be one charm, but stupid middled-aged or elderly will never be called that way.
iceshoecream
Assuming that police actually know what is a real emergency. Last bike accident I had I only had a cut on my lip, and the cop was complaining "why didn't I call an ambulance for that?".
fareastfurfaro
#######9110 is for non-emergency things. Too bad more people don't know about it (I didn't until the other day...).
catiano
Almost all of them wouldn't use this non-emergency number (9110). They want to be put in the first priority no matter how silly thing it is.
Livvie
I wonder how many of these "prank" phone calls are actually smartphone misdials? Even if you lock your iPhone you can bypass the lock to call 110. I've almost pressed that button more than once, and I just saw something on the Canadian news about this same issue a few days ago. Perhaps it's best to disable this function if it is causing so much trouble.