'˜My trampoline looks dangerous' and other '˜emergency' 999 calls

That is the message from Herts Police as they try to crack down on inappropriate calls.

The force have released details of two calls received to its non-emergency number to remind people that some incidents are not police matters.

In one case a woman called 101 to report that a large trampoline was blowing about in her garden due to strong winds.

The caller said she was worried the trampoline would blow towards the house and smash one of the windows.

She was advised to tie the trampoline down or wedge it to something.

During another call, a woman reported that when she telephoned her doctor’s surgery, a staff member referred to her as ‘Mrs’ instead of her correct title, ‘Miss’.

It had happened not once, but three times. She was advised to call the NHS with her concerns.

Detective chief superintendent Jane Swinburne said: “In the two examples given, 101 should not have been called.

“To enable the force communication room to deal with 999 calls as quickly as possible, to respond to non-urgent police matters, and to provide the best possible service to the public, it is important that 999 and 101 are only called when a genuine emergency is ongoing and for police-related matters.”

Around 1,200 calls are made to 101 and 355 to 999 every day. But in the last year, 266 of the 999 calls were in fact non-emergencies.

The 101 number should be used for non-urgent matters, such as providing information to assist with a crime or reporting a crime which is not currently taking place.

999 police should be used to report crimes which are currently taking place, if someone is at risk, or is injured.