Dorset Police reminding public to only call 999 when in an emergency
A reminder to dial 101 in non-urgent cases
Dorset Police are reminding people in the area to keep 999 calls for emergencies only.
The force are sharing an example of people using the line for non-emergencies after receiving an influx of calls during their busiest period in the summer.
Many calls they get are not related to a crime or even a police matter, so public are advised to use the 101 line instead.
Chief Superintendent Julie Howe, of Dorset Police said:
“We are releasing a variety of short snippets to remind the public to only call 999 if there is a crime in progress or danger to life.
“Misusing the emergency line means we get to people in real need less quickly. Calling 999 for anything else, other than a crime in progress or danger to life, may slow down our response to people who may be in immediate danger or witnessing a crime."
“The clips we are releasing demonstrate the examples of calls our staff receive, with several a day often not relating to an emergency, crime or even a police matter."
“Our message is very clear: if there is a crime in progress or a danger to life, please continue to call 999. In non-emergency situations, you can contact us on 101, fill in an online form on the Dorset Police website or by reporting a non-urgent crime at a police station inquiry office or community contact point. We can only help on police matters."