Operators unveil dumbest pleas on 999 80th anniversary
- Others have begged for help to get down from their top-bunk, BT operators said
- The sight of a seagull with a broken arm prompted one stranger to ring 999
- One wife rang in panic when her husband couldn’t breathe without his pyjamas
- Emergency service operators receive 560,000 calls each week, figures show
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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Since 1937, the emergency services have had to deal with hundreds of thousands of nuisance calls from some of the stupidest Britons.
But today, on its 80th anniversary, phone operators have unveiled the dumbest pleas for help that have ever been asked since the life-saving invention.
They vary from bizarre requests to cancel their hairdressers’ appointment, to ringing 999 and asking how they would ring the non-emergency line 101.
Others have begged for help to get down from their top-bunk, while one wife rang in panic when her husband couldn’t breathe without his beloved pyjamas.
A stolen snowman sparked another call for immediate assistance, and the sight of a seagull with a broken arm prompted one kind-hearted stranger to pick up the phone.
Today, on 999’s 80th anniversary, phone operators have unveiled the dumbest pleas for help that have ever been asked since the life-saving invention
BT operators unveiled the 12 most hilarious exchanges it has come across since the inception of the helpline to mark 999’s historic birthday.
How many calls are received?
Archives show emergency service operators, which control the release of police, fire and ambulance units receive 560,000 calls each week.
Over the period of a year, this is around 30 million. But a large proportion of these are dubbed to be a nuisance – and not needing of immediate help.
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While they initially may appear comical, they prevent stretched staff from answering more pressing queries that really do need urgent attention.
Saved countless lives
Nick Hale, managing director, BT Ventures, said: ‘Recent events in the UK mean people are acutely aware of the work of the emergency services and the value of the 999 service.
HOW MANY NUISANCE CALLS ARE THERE?
Around 35 per cent of the 30 million calls answered by BT each year do not involve actual requests for help.
The majority of these are made by children playing with home phones or people accidentally dialling 999, BT said.
The proportion of calls connected by BT to the various emergency services is: Police – 49%, Ambulance – 47%, Fire and Rescue Service – 4% and less than 1% to the Coastguard and Cave and Mountain rescue services.
Some of the highest numbers of calls made to 999 are around midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, with around 5,000 calls an hour being received by BT.
The early hours of New Year’s Day are traditionally the busiest time of the year when up to 9,000 calls can be received each hour.
‘They are an extremely capable and committed team working at the sharp end of the most important communication services in the country.
‘Countless lives have been saved over the last 80 years because of their professionalism and dedication.’
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, told MailOnline: ‘It’s important for the public to remember that when they make spurious calls to 999, they are not just wasting taxpayers’ money but could also be stopping the emergency services from helping those who really need them.’
Growing population and the reduction of some-out-of-hours services have previously been blamed on a growing demand on the 999 service.
This increase has impacted upon service levels with call handlers answering, on average, in 11 seconds, with 75 per cent answered within 10 seconds.
Call operators are trained to identify and deal with nuisance calls, which are closely monitored and their numbers are flagged up as repeat callers.
Prosecution
Those who make repeated bogus calls are prosecuted and some have even landed in jail. Most are given anti-social behaviour orders.
But MailOnline previously reported the abuse of nuisance callers on non-emergency line 101, which was adopted by all forces in 2012.
It was originally designed for the public to report a crime or traffic offence and to free up 999 call handlers.
However, 20 per cent of calls to 101 are still nuisance calls, experts said in September – with police speaking to the public about neighbour’s dogs or the size of their council tax bill.
THE 12 DUMBEST PLEAS FOR HELP IN 999’S 80-YEAR EXISTENCE
Caller: ‘I’m sorry to call 999 but I was looking for 101 but I don’t know the number.’
Caller: ‘Mountain Rescue please.’
Caller: ‘I’m on the top bunk and I can’t get down.’
Caller: ‘I need the police please it is my daughter’s wedding day and her dress doesn’t fit anymore. I need the police to come and help me get her in it.’
Caller: ‘I need the police, I ordered a takeaway that cost me £30 and they took it to number six, when I live at number seven.’
Caller: ‘My laptop password won’t work, I need you to reset it for me.’
Caller: ‘Can you call my service provider and get them to ring me back?’
Caller: ‘I need an ambulance, my husband has lost his pyjamas and he cannot breathe without them.’
Caller: ‘Well it’s quite urgent my rabbit has escaped, I need help.’
Caller: ‘Can I get the Police, someone has stolen my snowman from my garden, can you come quickly?’
Caller: ‘I need to cancel my hairdressers’ appointment, it’s an emergency and I can’t get through to the salon.’
Caller: ‘There’s a seagull with a broken arm.’
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