A military helicopter has crashed killing and injuring several people.   The MOD has published a helpline number for relatives to use for their enquiries ---- naturally it is an 0845 !!!!!!!

WHY WHY WHY ????   What is the point?   Why can't the MOD just issue a normal geo number?    At the very least they should publish a geo number alongside according to the Governments own policy!    Or does this Policy mean nothing?   Why is our own Government not protecting us from this phone number abuse?

They're using 0845 so the call costs the same regardless of the caller's location in the UK (or that's the garbage they'll spout, if asked).

I am astonished at how many people actually believe this garbage  but wouldn't you expect the MOD to know better. How can we rely on them for our safety!

It just made my heart sink when I saw the number given out on BBC today. What about people desperate to make contact using mobiles, particularly PAYG or who are overseas (or both), both of which I would have thought were likely with service families.

Is there anyone we can contact about it.

Yes, write to the Prime Minister and your MP about it and put your letter and your replies on this site.

The helicopter crash was given prominence in the BBC's One o'clock news and in the Regional South/London bulletin afterwards.

They stressed that names of those involved in the crash would not be given out until next of kin had been contacted.   This raises an interesting point.   There could be hundreds, even thousands, of relatives out there who might THINK their loved ones might have been on that flight, they just don't know.   So they are all phoning in their droves to find out -- and the only number the MOD has deigned to provide is an 0845!!

However, here is the mystery.   While the 0845 was being broadcast all morning on the BBC, and presumably by other broadcasters, there was no mention of ANY phone number in the midday broadcasts!!!!    What is going on????