Documents and publications

112 Emergency Switchboard breakdown

Press release | 26-06-2012

The Dutch mobile 112 emergency telephone number was in part unavailable on 21 June from 0.15 to 06.20 a.m. due to a breakdown. An investigation shows that the breakdown was the result of maintenance work on the police telecommunications infrastructure. Due to the breakdown, not all incoming calls could be answered. In 164 cases, callers were unable to reach an operator at the Driebergen-based emergency switchboard.

The emergency switchboard immediately took measures including calling these 164 persons whose calls had not been answered. The switchboard operators were unable to contact 3 of them, despite several attempts. The nature and scope of the unanswered emergency calls are still under investigation.

The Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, the partnership between the various regional police forces and the Royal Police Services Agency (KLPD) are taking measures to prevent any further breakdowns. Recently, the Ministry commissioned improvements on the entire 112 infrastructure to minimize the risk of breakdowns of any nature whatsoever, and to limit the impact of any breakdown.

Responsible ministry