I had the unfortunate luck to witness a case of domestic violence at my apartment. When the lady (who was getting the licks) started to scream “murder” and “help call police”, I felt obligated to be an “informer” and call the police by dialing 119.

119 does not connect or seem to connect to anywhere. The phone rang for a while then just went dead for the first six or so attempts, before I finally got someone. On speaking to the lady, I got to understand that she was not in contact with the squad cars on the road, but she, after taking my call, would then have to call the nearest police station.

Having played Chinese telephone as a child I hung up and called the police station directly and got the police in about five minutes.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Keep the direct line to the two or three closest police stations to your home or business establishment handy. Call them directly rather than waste time with 119.

2. If you know an officer personally, keep his mobile number close at hand.

SOLUTION

The police cars should be equipped with radios and use 119 as the base of operations to monitor and dispatch officers on the road where they are needed most.

If they need help to institute this system they should call in the Taxi operators as consultants, as City Guide usually gets me a cab wherever I am in “less than five minutes”.