It is Monday the 3rd of November 2003 at 11.03. The phone rings at the police control room, and a 999 call is coming through.
The call handler was clearly irritated that Karen hadn’t reported Charlene missing sooner.
She goes on to ask details of Charlene’s description and age. She informs Karen that officers are on their way. The response we hear is not what we would expect from a mother of a missing child.
Karen tells her she has to go out shortly!
The response from the call handler was one of anger. She sternly tells Karen she has to stay home her because her daughter is missing.
The duration of the 999 call was one minute and 34 seconds.
What takes place before the call is connected to the call handler is extremely interesting.
The first call is placed to 999 at 11.03, and the phone is put down. The police called back, and someone answered the phone but didn’t speak
.
The phone is put down a second time, and the handler calls back again.
The phone has now been turned off. The handler tries many times to call back the phone number. it remained off.
She asks her colleague to help by calling a second number that was on file. No contact could be made.
This continues for a total of 10 mins. The phone is then switched back on at 11.19am, and we hear Karen Downes answer the phone.
Audio of the 999 call
The Charlene Files 