Advertisement

US police receive calls to Northbridge station

US police receive calls to Northbridge station (The West)

A news broadcast in the United States has reported that phone calls to police in Northbridge have been "re-routed" to Northbridge in Massachusetts.

A news presenter from CBS station WBZ-TV News Boston said it was "almost like a punchline-type joke".

It is understood the US town of Northbridge had received "a flood" of police calls from Western Australia.

"Callers are trying to reach officers in Northbridge Australia, which is a suburb of Perth," the presenter said.

"Instead they’re being re-routed and connected to Northbridge Massachusetts."

The news report describes Northbridge Australia as "a city dotted with palm trees in the western part of that country".

WA Police took to Facebook today to explain the situation and posted video of the American news broadcast.

"We’ve been contacted by our counterparts at the Northbridge Police in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, saying that in recent weeks they have been receiving calls for police assistance from Perth," WA Police said.

"Clearly, those callers have looked up Northbridge on their phones and dialled a number, not realising it was Northbridge USA, not Northbridge WA.

"Just a reminder, if you need police assistance call 131 444, or call 000 in emergencies."

Calls from Perth to Massachusetts range from break-ins to fights.

WBZ Boston News reporter Katie Brace said the first of "many" unusual calls to the wrong station started in early March, when the caller from Perth reported a fight.

"As you can probably hear in the background there are a bunch of people fighting at Russell Square," the caller said.

Northbridge Police Det-Sgt John Ouillette said that after receiving the call, officers tried to determine "if it was in town or not".

"And then we realised that it was in Australia," Det-Sgt Ouillette said.

One of the Massachusetts Police dispatchers answered at least 20 calls from WA in more than five weeks, Ms Brace reported.

"The accent was definitely the first thing that gave it away," dispatcher Jordan Tredeau said.

Calls to the US were immediately directed to the correct country.

"They have asked the Northbridge Australia police to alert their citizens of the issue, but as of now this group can practise their accent," Ms Brace said.