Understand
Humberside Police highlight the impact of 'infuriating' hoax 999 calls
Overview
Humberside Police have highlighted the impact of inappropriate and hoax 999 calls, which divert valuable resources away from genuine emergencies and vulnerable people. Officers at the force control room in Melton reported receiving absurd emergency calls regarding issues such as alien and ghost encounters, seagulls stealing ice cream, a mouse in a property, and a garden smelling of urine. Police urge the public to only use 999 for genuine emergencies and to use the 101 non-emergency line or online tools for non-urgent matters.
Key points
- Humberside Police operators must assess every 999 call they receive, even if they appear non-genuine.
- Hoax and inappropriate calls take valuable time and resources away from genuine emergencies and vulnerable victims.
- Recent inappropriate 999 calls included reports of an alien assault, a ghost stealing a mobile phone, and seagulls stealing ice cream.
- Other trivial calls involved a mouse in a property and a garden smelling of urine where bleach failed to work.
- Force control room manager Michelle Chamberlain noted that hoax calls often spike during specific periods like Hull Fair.
- Police advise the public to reserve 999 for emergencies and use 101 or online options for non-urgent situations.