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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cold kebabs and 'rip-off prostitutes' among 999 calls | Cold kebabs and 'rip-off prostitutes' among 999 calls |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Complaints about cold kebabs and clowns overcharging for balloons were just some of the ridiculous 999 calls made across England over the festive period. | Complaints about cold kebabs and clowns overcharging for balloons were just some of the ridiculous 999 calls made across England over the festive period. |
| The Met Police has released a list of 10 of the worst calls, including one about where to get a bacon sandwich. | The Met Police has released a list of 10 of the worst calls, including one about where to get a bacon sandwich. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police received a call from a man complaining he was "ripped off" by a prostitute. | Devon and Cornwall Police received a call from a man complaining he was "ripped off" by a prostitute. |
| Police said inappropriate calls increased waiting times for callers who genuinely needed help. | Police said inappropriate calls increased waiting times for callers who genuinely needed help. |
| Tambourine on kitten's head | Tambourine on kitten's head |
| Other nuisance calls to the Met included one from a woman who wanted officers to deal with a couple of noisy foxes outside her home and a man whose 50p coin was stuck in a laundrette washing machine and who wanted police to retrieve it. | Other nuisance calls to the Met included one from a woman who wanted officers to deal with a couple of noisy foxes outside her home and a man whose 50p coin was stuck in a laundrette washing machine and who wanted police to retrieve it. |
| London Fire Brigade tweeted they were called to help a kitten that had a tambourine stuck on its head, using the tweet as part of a social media campaign to drive down nuisance calls. | London Fire Brigade tweeted they were called to help a kitten that had a tambourine stuck on its head, using the tweet as part of a social media campaign to drive down nuisance calls. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police also spoke to a woman whose false nail had fallen off, another about a racing pigeon in her garden and a man who wanted the police to deliver a pizza. | Devon and Cornwall Police also spoke to a woman whose false nail had fallen off, another about a racing pigeon in her garden and a man who wanted the police to deliver a pizza. |
| The public is urged to contact police via email in non-emergency situations. | The public is urged to contact police via email in non-emergency situations. |
| Ch Supt Pippa Mills, of the Met, said: "Callers who do not have an emergency may prevent others who require our immediate assistance from getting through to us. | Ch Supt Pippa Mills, of the Met, said: "Callers who do not have an emergency may prevent others who require our immediate assistance from getting through to us. |
| "This presents a real risk to our ability to respond to genuine emergency calls." | "This presents a real risk to our ability to respond to genuine emergency calls." |
| Ten time-wasting calls made to the Met Police: |