WA Police highlight absurd Triple Zero calls wasting emergency resources
Consensus Summary
Western Australia Police Acting Superintendent Graeme Barry highlighted the issue of frivolous Triple Zero calls clogging emergency lines, with examples including requests to retrieve a chicken from an oven, open a milk carton, or help with lost remotes. Both sources agree that about 400,000 calls are made annually, with roughly one per day classified as absurd. The misuse of Triple Zero carries penalties of up to three years imprisonment and fines of $70,000–$75,000. While both articles emphasize the risk to genuine emergencies, they differ slightly on call volume (NEWSCOMAU says 12,000 daily, ABC says 3,000–4,000) and the exact fine amount. Barry stressed that Triple Zero should only be used for life-threatening situations, property crimes, or serious incidents, and that non-emergency callers should use the 131 444 line instead.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Western Australia Police Acting Superintendent Graeme Barry is quoted about frivolous Triple Zero calls
- About 400,000 Triple Zero calls are made annually in Western Australia, with roughly one per day classified as 'absurd'
- A caller requested police retrieve a chicken left in an oven, offering to let officers eat it
- Another caller asked police to help open a milk carton for tea
- Misusing Triple Zero is an offence with a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and up to a $75,000 fine (ABC says $70,000)
- WA Police receive between 3,000 and 4,000 Triple Zero calls daily, peaking in summer
- Triple Zero call-takers must treat every call as an emergency until verified otherwise, including following up on pocket dials
- Non-urgent police line (131 444) exists but some callers use Triple Zero to 'jump the queue'
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Superintendent Barry mentioned 'ducks crossing the road' and 'lost television remotes' as examples of absurd calls
- Superintendent Barry stated 'cold chips from a retailer' as another non-emergency call reason
- Superintendent Barry said WA Police take around 12,000 Triple Zero calls per 24 hours (note: ABC says 3,000–4,000)
- Superintendent Barry explicitly mentioned mental health reasons, pocket dials, and attempting to bypass delays as reasons for non-emergency calls
- Superintendent Barry mentioned callers locking themselves out of their house or forgetting phone passwords as absurd call reasons
- ABC notes dementia as a possible factor for some calls, with call-takers trained to handle such situations
- ABC specifies 'at least one Triple Zero call per day is frivolous' (NEWSCOMAU says 'about one per day')
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU says WA Police take 'around 12,000 Triple Zero calls per 24 hours,' but ABC says they average '3,000 to 4,000 calls per day'
- NEWSCOMAU states the maximum fine for misuse is '$75,000,' while ABC states it is '$70,000'
Source Articles
State’s ‘absurd’ triple-0 calls revealed
From needing help opening milk cartons to forgotten chickens, one Aussie state’s police force has revealed the “absurd” reasons behind some of their triple-0 calls.
Cold chips, lost remotes among reasons for 'absurd' Triple Zero calls
Triple Zero call centres are seeing an increase in "absurd" calls, ranging from lost television remote controls, to ducks crossing the road.