How to leave messages for police

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 283, 18 April 1989, Page 12

How to leave messages for police

Do you suddenly become tongue-tied, embarrassed, forget what to say, when encountering an answer phone? According to Ohakune and Raetihi Police, that's just what

is happening when people ring the stations and instead of an officer find themselves talking to the answer phone. Both Police Stations are equipped with the machines which replace the old procedure of au-

tomatically switching the caller through to Wanganui Police when the stations are unattended. Raetihi switched to an answer phone in October last year. "Some people don't even bother leaving

their phone number once they realise they're listening to a recorded message," says Raetihi's Officer in Charge, Peter Gardner. "Because people don't know how to talk to an answer phone, we're losing a lot of business." In other ca'ses it's the reverse, according to Constable Gardner. "Others tell us their life history and then forget to leave a name or contact number," he said.

The only message that needs to be left is a name and telephone number, to enable the Police to contact callers when they return

to the station. And until the end of this month, Ohakune callers will automatically be put through to the Raetihi Police Sta-

tion - the temporary quarters of Ohakune Police - until renovations at the Ohakune Police Station are completed.