Member Article

70 years of stupid 999 calls

The most unusual 999 calls placed to the police were revealed this weekend as the service celebrated its 70th birthday. Hoaxers and time wasters have plagued the emergency line since its launch on June 30, 1937. They include a man who demanded help with his crossword, a woman with shampoo in her eyes and another with a bleeding spot, reports The Sun. One prankster ordered a pizza, another complained his mobile battery was dead and an old woman said she could not reach her TV remote.

Apparently 40% of the 560,000 calls to 999 each week were hoaxes or time wasting. A spokesman said: “We are using the anniversary to remind people the service is for emergencies.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .