Shropshire Star

Two-thirds of 999s to police in Shropshire non-urgent

More than two thirds of 999 calls made to police in Shropshire over the past year were not emergencies, new figures reveal.

Published

Emergency services are trying to cut inappropriate calls by urging residents to "use their common sense".

Examples of inappropriate calls to 999 in recent months include one from a woman who phoned police to complain about a lack of topping on her ice cream.

The woman dialled the emergency number to complain that an ice cream man had only put topping on one side of it.

When she asked for her money back, the man refused and she dialled 999.

A patient 999 operator told the woman that it was not an emergency and she needed to speak to trading standards officials or the Citizens Advice Bureau.

In many cases, officers said most people would see it as common sense that calls like those should not be made to a phone number dedicated to emergencies.

Cat

In July, a Telford woman called 999 to tell ambulance workers in a panic that her cat had scratched her.

Emergencies include where the police are required immediately including when a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby or when there is danger to life. It also includes when violence is being used or threatened.

Between October last year and September this year, 69 per cent of 999 calls to police in Shropshire were deemed "non-emergencies".

Instead, residents in Shropshire are being urged to call their non-emergency 101 number if a matter is not urgent.

Sophie Flynn, organisational communications assistant for West Mercia Police, said: "Emergencies are where the immediate attendance of the police is required such as where a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

She added: "I would ask that people apply some common sense before ringing 999.

"I do not want to discourage people who have a genuine need to speak to us from ringing the police and where the matter is not urgent, then I ask that they call 101."

The emergency services often release details of time-wasting calls they receive in a bid to urge people to think twice before calling 999.

West Mercia Police posted the details on Twitter to show the challenges its staff faced each day.

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