We are Jersey..."just off the UK!"

Thursday 21 July 2016

We are not the home of the turnpike, Bruce Springsteen, or Atlantic City. This is Jersey, not New Jersey.

But that crucial distinction was totally lost on one caller who rang police in Jersey earlier this week.

Police today revealed a hilarious phone conversation in which a concerned US caller rang the police headquarters in St Helier to report a dangerously driven lorry. 

The caller rang to say he had witnessed erratic driving on Doverchester Road……Not an address the handler had heard of. 

When quizzed if he had got the right ‘Jersey’ - the caller responded that he had. 

Somewhat confused the caller was then told by police that he had rung Jersey…"...just off the UK.”

The caller, who has given permission for the audio to be used, even used the American phrase for a mobile phone, namely a cell phone. He was then told the phone call would have cost him “a fortune” - cue laugher all round. 

Jersey Police Call from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

Here is the transcript of the tape and audio can be heard here. 

Police - “Good Morning Jersey Police station”

Caller - “Hi, is that Jersey Police station.”

“Yes, police headquarters.”

“Hi, I want to report some suspicious driving on Doverchester Road. There is a big truck and its swerving all over the lane and his break lights and indicators are burnt out.”

“OK, where are you calling from?”

”On a cell phone.”

“Er, are you in Jersey?”

“Yeah.”

“You are calling from Jersey, Channel Islands.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m in New Jersey.”

“New Jersey. No, you have come to Jersey, just off the UK.”

“Alright.”

“This must be costing you a fortune (laughs)”

“Ok.”