Police Operator’s Quick Thinking Saves Domestic Abuse Victim Asking for Pizza
A police operator’s clever response helped a woman in distress get the help she needed
Domestic Abuse, London, Emergency Services, Police, 999-55
London: A police operator’s quick thinking made a huge difference for a woman in a scary situation. She was too frightened to ask for help directly, so she cleverly said she needed a pizza.
During the call, operator Pippa Harvey calmly guided her through some yes or no questions to figure out what was going on. When asked about the emergency, the woman said “pizza delivery,” which was a clever way to signal for help.
Pippa quickly picked up on it and asked, “Do you need pizza delivery or the police? If it’s the police, say yes.” This way, the woman could safely indicate she needed help without alerting her abuser.
To make sure everything was clear, Pippa continued the pizza charade. She asked the woman to say “pepperoni” if her abuser had threatened her and “cheese” if the kids were in danger. The woman whispered “pepperoni,” and Pippa assured her that help was on the way.
Before ending the call, Pippa made sure it didn’t look suspicious, just in case the abuser was nearby. This quick thinking has been praised, and the Metropolitan Police shared the call to encourage others in danger to reach out for help, even if they can only whisper.
They also reminded everyone about the 999-55 emergency line, which allows victims to get help without speaking out loud. A recent survey showed many people still don’t know about this vital service, highlighting the need for more awareness.