Police reveal 75% of 999 calls are not emergencies

You expect a fast answer when you dial 999. This summer, police say that answer could come more slowly than usual, and part of the reason sits with the rest of us reaching for the emergency line when we do not need to.

The Force is dealing with unusually high demand for the time of year, and a sharp rise in 999 calls that turn out not to be emergencies at all.

A record summer for the control room

In June the Force took more than 31,000 calls to 999. That is a jump of nearly 13% on June 2025. Of those calls, 3,473 led to an emergency response, which means roughly 75% did not result in an emergency deployment.

The pressure has been building since May and is expected to hold through the summer. Police point to a mix of warmer weather, major sporting events and higher tourist numbers across the area as the drivers behind it.

When 999 is the right call

Police Staff Commander Lucy Baillie asked people to match the contact method to the situation.

“Please only call 999 in a genuine emergency,” Lucy said. “When there is an immediate threat to life, a crime is in progress, or urgent police attendance is required.”

For anything short of that, she pointed to a handful of alternatives: reporting online, visiting a local police front office, or ringing 101. Callers to 101 can use a call-back service that holds their place in the queue so they do not have to wait on the line.

Lucy also asked people to pause and consider whether their problem is one for the police at all. Noise complaints, fly-tipping, parking issues and many housing matters usually fall to local councils or other agencies.

Making the right call

If you are unsure where your issue belongs, here is the shortest version of what police are asking:

• Only call 999 when there is an immediate threat to life, a crime in progress, or an urgent need for officers to attend.
• Report non-urgent matters online.
• If you call 101, use the call-back service where it is offered.
• Take noise, fly-tipping, parking, housing and environmental concerns to the right council or agency.
• Give clear, accurate information so officers can assess and prioritise the response.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said the people fielding these calls carry a heavy load.

“Our contact centre and control room staff work tirelessly behind the scenes, answering hundreds of calls every day, assessing risk and making crucial decisions to ensure officers are deployed where they are needed most urgently,” Alison said. “They are often the first point of contact for people in distress and play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.”

She was clear about the cost of getting it wrong.

“The vast majority of people use the service appropriately, but the reality is that every unnecessary 999 call can delay help reaching someone facing a genuine emergency.”