UK Police Change 999 Call Answering

Police in South Wales (UK) have changed how they answer 999 emergency calls in order to cut back on the huge number of inappropriate calls they’re receiving. Previously they answered, “South Wales Police how can I help?” Now they will more pointedly say, “South Wales Police what is your emergency?” Police released a long list of inappropriate calls they’ve received, including one from a woman who called because she didn’t have money for a trolley, and another from a man who asked, “”Can you come round and take my mother-in-law away? She has been here for 18 days” Police said inappropriate 999 calls had increased over 33% over the past holidays, and now constitute about 10% of all the 999 calls they handle. Read more here.