West Yorkshire Police's contact centre is well worth a follow on Twitter, not least because they regularly tweet some of the daftest reasons people have called 999.
Female calling on 999 because her machine is not working in William Hill. This is not an emergency. #NOT999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) September 4, 2017
999 is, of course, only for use in emergencies. Police define an emergency as a situation where there is likely to be:
- a danger to life
- use, or immediate threat, of violence
- serious injury to a person
- and / or serious damage to property.
However, it would seem not everyone in the county agrees.
CCC received a call from someone reporting their boyfriend had eaten their food... #Not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) June 3, 2017
For starters, 999 is strictly for humans. Animals in peril need not apply.
Report of an injured pigeon struggling for its life. #not999 #notpolice
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) July 10, 2017
We have just received a 999 call stating that her cat has eaten her goldfish #not999 #noteventhepolice #naughtycat
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) July 1, 2017
The police don't want to help you escalate your passive-aggressive arguments.
female ringing 999 because her sister wouldn't turn the tv down.... yes this did happen. #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) July 27, 2017
Reporting that your neighbour has thrown dirty nappies into your garden two hours ago on 999 #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) June 9, 2017
Ringing 999 because your neighbours cough is loud is not an appropriate use of this service #not999 #inappropriate999 #notemergency
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) July 7, 2017
We've just received a 999 call reporting a neighbour having a BBQ whilst her washing was on the line. #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) April 8, 2017
And they're not a customer service helpline.
Male calling on 999 because he has paid a deposit for a fridge freezer and it it not in stock. #NOT999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) August 31, 2017
Gamers! If your video game isn't working, call the shop you brought it from. Please don't call 999 like the last gentleman. #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) March 29, 2017
🚨🚔#not999🚔🚨 Resolving a dispute over the type of camping bag you've been sold is not for the police to get involved with. #notourbag 🏕️🎒👜🤦
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) April 13, 2017
Ringing 999 to report that a barber shop hasn't cut your beard properly #not999 #doesntevencutit
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) August 10, 2017
Breakdown services may seem like an emergency service, but they tend to have their own phone number.
Call for police after back wheel had fallen off their car. #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) June 5, 2017
999 call received from a male asking for the telephone number for the AA as they had locked their keys in their car #not999 #notpolice
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) May 26, 2017
Some calls are so bad they need illustrating.
Reporting someone wafting duvet in their garden and causing a lot of feathers to go all over the place... #not999 pic.twitter.com/cZpKTe1MCd
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) August 19, 2017
999 call received reporting they have dropped their phone down a gutter! That's very unfortunate... but it's #not999! pic.twitter.com/KyJYh1Orld
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) February 23, 2017
No, losing your shoe is not a good enough reason to ring 999. #cinderellaknows #not999 #princecharmingmightfindit pic.twitter.com/cquYoRi4aZ
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) June 15, 2017
West Yorkshire Police provide many services to the public... plumbing, however, is not one of them! #not999 pic.twitter.com/x9qhVDz0ur
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) March 19, 2017
While some require swift pun-ishment.
Calling on 999 because your chicken wings are out of date will put our call takers in a fowl mood! #not999 pic.twitter.com/DwJJDDrnb9
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) June 11, 2017
For non-emergency calls, there is a separate number... but what do you do if you've forgotten it?
We have received a 999 call from a member of the public asking for the non emergency number #not999
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) February 19, 2017
That number, if you're wondering: 101.
Please do not dial 999 to ask for the non emergency number. #not999 #checkonline pic.twitter.com/ALqrUs0oaA
— WYP Contact Centre (@WYP_CCC) July 12, 2017
Tom Donohoe head of the force's Communications Division, said: "These calls are so ridiculous it’s astonishing listening to them but they hide a serious truth."
"Each call often takes minutes to deal with as our Customer Contact Centre staff have to clarify the situation – it might not sound like much but if someone is trying to get through to report a genuine life or death emergency then a minute is a very long time to wait."
"I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only."
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