Telegraph e-paper

Use 999 for crimes – not social media, public told

By Catherine Lough

A POLICE force has told the public to stop reporting crime on social media site Nextdoor and call 999 instead.

Wandsworth Police, in west London, noted a number of complaints were being reported on the community forum, with users tagging officers instead of contacting them by phone.

Dave Haywood, an officer from the Basic Command Unit for south-west London, wrote on the site: “It has come to my attention that residents are tagging officers in their private posts on this platform.”

He said that police officers on the app “cannot see your personally created content” and that this meant “everything you write will not get a reply”. “It will also annoy you too when you get no answer. Please report crime in the normal ways,” he added.

He said many people were unaware that communication was not possible on sites such as Nextdoor – unlike on Facebook and Twitter – unless the thread is started by the police.

The Met’s “report a crime” website can be used by those not wishing to call.

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2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://dailytelegraph.pressreader.com/article/281762748279298

Daily Telegraph