North Wales Police Release Examples Of Non-Emergency 999 Calls

North Wales Police have released a series of YouTube videos of non-emergency calls being made to the 999 number.

The videos, embedded below, feature a report of someone being unable to move a couch along with a complaint about not being able to get through to a catalogue company. These are just some of the examples of the 999 calls North Wales Police have received over the last few weeks.

The information has been made public as North Wales Police launch their campaign to help reduce the amount of unnecessary and inappropriate calls made to the Joint Communications Centre in St Asaph.

Last year the Force received around 520,000 calls including emergency and non-emergency calls. In the last 12 months alone, 11,390 calls made to the centre have been abandoned with a high percentage of those being 999 calls.

Temporary Superintendent Alex Goss is urging people to make sure that they use the 999-line appropriately, and only contact the non-emergency line if it is a police matter. He said: “Each unnecessary call to us reduces time available for calls which are for genuine policing matters.

“Phoning 999 – which is an emergency line, for trivial matters such as being annoyed with catalogue companies is a complete waste of resources, and could possibly prevent a genuine life or death emergency call being put through.”

A version of this article appeared yesterday on Deeside.com hyperlocal site, and is reproduced with permission from them.

UPDATE – LIVE POLICE WEB CHAT TOMORROW

Seconds after we tweeted this up @NWPolice tweeted us to tell us of a webchat tomorrow, with the details below:

“T/Supt Goss is the latest officer to use the live web chat – previously the Force Recruitment Team and some local Inspectors have hosted live Q&A sessions which have seen scores of individuals log on and participate.”

“This invitation gives people the opportunity to directly ask questions, provide feedback about any issues, observations, thoughts or concerns.”

“During the live session individuals will be able to join in at any time.”

“The ‘Cover it Live’ session will run from 2pm but will open its virtual doors at 1:30pm to allow people to start sending their queries and questions.”

To take part in the web chat please visit the homepage of the North Wales Police website http://www.north-wales.police.uk/ and follow the link to the ‘Cover it Live’ session.”