Alert Ready phone messages from Ontario prompt complaints in Winnipeg

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Winnipeg police are telling the public not to call 911 to complain about getting an Alert Ready on their cellphone.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2019 (2146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police are telling the public not to call 911 to complain about getting an Alert Ready on their cellphone.

In a statement, police said when an alert is sent out to either a person’s phone, television or radio, all they have to do is listen or read it, and take any action needed.

“If it is not relevant to you, disregard the notification. Do not contact your local police service unless directed to do so.”

CP
Police and media are seen near a house where a young girl was found dead in Brampton, Ont. on Friday, February 15, 2019. The father of an 11-year-old girl allegedly killed while out celebrating her birthday is in police custody and will soon be facing charges in his daughter's death, officers said Friday. Peel regional police Const. Danny Marttini said Roopesh Rajkumar is en route back to Brampton, Ont., the suburb west of Toronto where his daughter Riya was found dead late Thursday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Ryan
CP Police and media are seen near a house where a young girl was found dead in Brampton, Ont. on Friday, February 15, 2019. The father of an 11-year-old girl allegedly killed while out celebrating her birthday is in police custody and will soon be facing charges in his daughter's death, officers said Friday. Peel regional police Const. Danny Marttini said Roopesh Rajkumar is en route back to Brampton, Ont., the suburb west of Toronto where his daughter Riya was found dead late Thursday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Ryan

The statement comes in the wake of complaints received by Peel Regional Police on 911 after an amber alert was sent out — for a child later found slain — on Thursday close to midnight.

“Many people were upset with the fact that they received the notification, tying up our emergency call takers and potentially preventing legitimate emergency calls from getting through.”

Alert Ready allows the authorities to send out warnings not only about amber alerts, but also others including natural disasters, terrorist threats, civil emergencies, and urban fires.

History

Updated on Friday, February 15, 2019 5:14 PM CST: Updates headline

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