'Pizza' 999 call was coded request for help

A police emergency call handler has been commended for her quick-thinking after realising a call ostensibly ordering a pizza was in fact a woman in urgent need of help.

The Metropolitan Police shared the audio of the call on social media, with the 999 caller's words voiced by an actor.

The handler, who has not been named, structured her questions so the caller could answer in brief "yes" or "no" answers.

She also instructed the woman to respond with "pepperoni" if she was in danger and "cheese" if her children were.

The handler sent an emergency team to the property and finished the call after a short time so its length would not arouse the suspicion of anyone in the home.

The Met has issued advice for making a silent 999 call: "If you're in danger, call 999 and try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering.

"You may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions."

If the call is made from a mobile phone and the caller cannot speak, pressing 55 will transfer to the police, who will usually be able to find your location.

From a landline, if the operator can only hear background noise, they will transfer your call to the police.

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