Police urge people to only use 999 in a genuine emergency

Staffordshire Police is urging people to only use the 999 in a genuine emergency as demand on the number continues to be high as we approach the expected heatwave.

A national emergency has been declared with a red warning for extreme heat issued for the first time in England on Monday and Tuesday.

The number of calls to the emergency line every are increasing and this is placing significant pressures on our Force Control Centre. The force has received over 4,900 999 calls in the last week, an increase of an average of 28 per cent since Saturday.  

Chief Superintendent Emily McCormick, who oversees contact and operations for the force, said: We are consistently seeing demand on 999 as high as it would be on New Year’s Eve and so we’re appealing for people to use the system responsibly.

“999 should only be called in a genuine emergency when you need immediate assistance and not simply because you cannot get through on non-emergency numbers. Anyone, with a genuine need for emergency assistance, where life or property is in immediate danger, should always call 999, otherwise get in touch with us online via staffordshire.police.uk.”