Don’t abuse security helplines- Police caution children

Children have been cautioned not to abuse the use of helplines provided by the Ghana Police Service but rather utilise them during emergency cases only.

The Public Relations Director of the Volta Regional Police Command, Superintendent Effia Tenge, in an interview with the Junior Graphic, noted that a lot of children made prank calls and requested for unnecessary items, such as toffees and biscuits when they called the helplines, making it difficult for the police to respond to genuine emergency cases.
She asked children to memorise the helpline numbers and use them in cases of emergency to receive the necessary help.
Supt Tenge advised that when children made distress calls, they should not panic but be bold to provide the needed details, so they could be rescued by the police.
She described emergency situations to include hearing vigorous bangs on the door at home and someone shouting in the neighbourhood for help.
“When you are caught up in a robbery attack alone, in the midst of gunshots at home or in school, for instance, and you call any of the helplines, do not fear; give a vivid description of the situation so you may be rescued,” she indicated.
“When there is an emergency outside the home, for instance, and you see someone climbing a neighbour’s window to steal, don’t be quick to go out to see what’s happening; rather call the emergency lines for help,” she noted.
She advised that children should know directions to their neighbourhoods and houses or provide the right addresses and locations, adding: "You can send the right directions if you have a phone.”
Supt Tenge mentioned the emergency lines of the Ghana Police Service as 191, 112 or 18555, noting that when children did not have phones or could not reach the helplines, they must run, hide, shout or scream to draw people’s attention so that they could get help.
She also encouraged children to be patient and observe well any emergency situation so that the police would be able to trace the culprits.
“If we miss the criminal(s), we can get a lot of clues from the information you provide us, which may include where the incident happened, the people involved, their appearances and demeanour,” she explained.
The PR Regional Director advised children to avoid crime scenes where people had gathered because they might be trapped in the crowd and harmed should there be a stampede (a situation when people suddenly start running in the same direction).
Additionally, Supt Tenge said in cases where children had adults around, they could draw the attention of the adults first before resorting to the helplines.
“If you are at home with your guardian and you see someone breaking into a neighbour’s home, draw the attention of your guardian. Only call the helplines when there are no adults around,” she said.
On safety tips, she encouraged youngsters to be one another's keeper and share information on security with their friends.
“Make a conscious effort to be abreast of security issues in your society, share this information with your friends and be vigilant to save them from all kinds of harm,” she said.
Supt Tenge lauded the Junior Graphic for its constant efforts to keep children safe from danger and harm.