Parrot's vocal skills mistaken for woman's distress call, prompting police response

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

A case of mistaken identity led to a comical incident in the UK when a concerned resident called the police after hearing what they believed to be a woman screaming for help in their neighborhood. Essex police quickly responded to the call on July 11, dispatching three vehicles to Canvey Island.

However, upon arrival, they discovered that the source of the distressing cries was not a human but a vocal parrot. The parrot, named Freddie, belongs to Steve Wood, who has been a bird enthusiast for over two decades, housing a variety of species including blue and gold macaws, Amazon parrots, and green-winged macaws.

It was reported that Freddie was particularly vocal on that day, with his usual morning chatter catching the attention of the concerned neighbor. Wood recounted the amusing encounter, stating, «I thought, 'Oh my God, what have I done?' I opened the door to two laughing police officers, and they said, 'Don't worry mate, I think we've got this one sussed.

We have had a report that there is a woman screaming for help in your house, and we have come to check everything is OK.'» He further expressed understanding and appreciation for the actions of both the police and the concerned caller, stating, "(The) Police have done the right thing, and the caller has done the right thing — there are no bad feelings on my part." While the incident turned out to be a false alarm, it highlights the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting. In this case, the parrot's vocal skills certainly caused quite a stir but ultimately provided a lighthearted twist to what could have been a more serious situation.