In Victoria, up until the '90's, the central radio dispatch centre was known as D24 (Housed in corridor D, Room 24). All calls via 000, 11444 or from police stations were routed through this comms centre to units on the ground. When a ground unit had to return to their station for paperwork, call of nature, meal etc then, D24 would have to telephone that police station to give that unit a 'job'. D24 was manned and operated by serving police officers, usually with several years' experience on the street. All radio communications and phone calls were tape recorded.
Phone calls between D24 and police stations were made via a 'speed dial' system requiring only one button to be pressed on a dedicated red coloured old style phone affectionately known as the 'Batphone'. 24 hour police stations have a watch house keeper who's job is to answer counter enquiries, look after prisoners, issue and reconcile equipment and try to keep on top of paperwork. Therefore there is always someone in the station despite a ground crew being out on patrol/answering calls.
About 2.00a.m. D24 had a job for the Box Hill (Divisional or Divvy) Van. The Van had told D24 they they were Code 3 ( at the station for a meal). D24 hit the speed dial and the Box Hill Batphone just kept ringing until finally a sleepy voice answered:
Yeah.... Hello....he..hello?"
D24: "You were asleep weren't you?" (A big no no.)
"Yeah, it's the middle of the night." (Very sleepy and puzzled voice)
D24: "O.K, O.K. Never mind, got a job for the van. Ready for details?"
"Hang on, got to find a pen and paper. (short pause and sounds of someone riffling through drawers). O.K.
D24 "Is your van there?"
"No just a sedan."
D24 "That'll do. Got a cold burg, (burglary that's already happened, no suspects on site) attend at (such and such address)
and see Mrs. (so and so) re a story to tell about a cold burg."
"O.K. Thanks" (long pause)
D24 "Give me a number". (Policeman's registered number to receipt the job)
(Long pause) "Um.........One?"
D24 "Stop stuffing around, give me your number."
"Um..........Ten"
D24 "Look, I've got no time for crap! Give me your registered number!!"
"Um.........(Gives a car registration number)..."
D24 "Listen!! You're asleep on duty, took forever to answer the phone and I'm in no mood for this. I want
your number or the next call's going to be to the Duty Officer."
(A very timid and slightly scared reply ) "I don't know what you want."
D24 (Long pause and some deep thinking) "This is the Box Hill Station......Isn't it?"
"No, I'm (so and so) from (such and such)..."
D24 After the sounds of the D24 operator typing a car registered number into a computer and getting a result. "Ah, yes
Mr. (so and so)....yes I can see that now. Yes...um....yes....well very sorry about the mix up. You go back to sleep
Sir, and we'll take care of everything for you. Goodnight Sir."
"O.K,.... thankyou, goodnight."
The D24 operator apparently spent the next few weeks praying that the Box Hill resident would wake up thinking that it was just a weird dream. However, someone at D24 thought it would be funny to send a copy of the tape to various police stations.
