Fifty Shades of Grey: London fire brigade warns of spike in 'handcuff situations' ahead of UK film launch

Force has requested that people 'think carefully' before engaging in potentially 'sticky situations'

Jamie Dornan's torso features in a scene from the much-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey movie adaptation (Rex Features)

London’s fire chiefs are braced for an increase in calls after the release of the Fifty Shades of Grey film, saying the light bondage film could lead to more people trapped in handcuffs.

Last year firefighters responded to 472 calls involving people stuck in compromising situations, a year on year rise – they claim – since the release of EL James’ books.

Over the last three years the total cost have spiralled to almost £400,000, with firemen called out to 293 incidents of stuck rings, including seven cases of men who had rings stuck onto their penises.

There were 28 cases of people trapped in handcuffs.

Other notable incidents, each of which costs the taxpayer £295, involved a man who had placed his penis into a toaster and another who had got his stuck in a hoover.

Third Officer Dave Brown said: “The Fifty Shades effect seems to spike handcuff incidents so we hope film goers will use common sense and avoid leaving themselves red faced.”

The force has launched a campaign, Fifty Shades of Red, to raise awareness of the dangers posed and to encourage people to think “carefully before getting themselves into sticky situations”.

The warnings follow requests from three major cinema chains in America to film-goers to leave their “props” behind, in case they make other film viewers uncomfortable.