Police crack down on 999 call abuse

CALLERS WHO repeatedly abuse the 999 emergency service could risk having their telephone cut off, a police force warned yesterday.

Kent County Constabulary has announced a new phase in its drive to reduce unnecessary 999 calls. At the start of the campaign a year ago, police noted that of the more than 170,000 emergency calls received in 1996, 73 per cent had nothing to do with emergencies.

Despite an reduction of nearly 20,000 emergency calls last year, Kent police are not satisfied. Superintendent Robert Chidley said: "We have tried exhortation, friendly persuasion and radio and newspaper adverts. With so much at stake, we are working with BT to examine sanctions to convince those who abuse thesystem to stop."

He added: "The 999 emergency service is a lifeline. Every call which abuses the emergency service endangers that lifeline."

Abuses have included:

"Did anyone pick up a pounds 20 note yesterday and hand it in to you?"

"I'm in Margate by the train station and I think my last train's gone, do you know if there is another train coming?"

"I'm a bit lost. I'm on the M20, I'm trying to get back to junction two on the M25, I'm just heading up the M20, I thought if I come off at junction three then I could turn round and go around the roundabout?"