Police in Warwickshire have issued a festive reminder about the proper use of the 999 emergency number after revealing a list of some of the most ridiculous calls their control room received this year.
The Festive Top Five of Inappropriate Calls
In a light-hearted social media post, the force shared a 'Top of the Pops' style countdown of the five most inappropriate reasons people dialled 999 in 2025. The list highlights a worrying trend of the emergency line being used for trivial matters.
The bizarre incidents logged by call handlers included:
- A man who complained that his takeaway had been delivered too quickly, leaving him worried it would be stolen from his doorstep before he got home.
- A complaint that the ITV soap opera Emmerdale had been cancelled due to a football match being televised instead.
- An expression of concern for a pigeon spotted with a swollen foot.
- A report of a single pineapple missing from a grocery delivery.
- A request for assistance to remove a spider from a person's house.
A Serious Message Behind the Humour
A spokesperson for Warwickshire Police stressed that while the list was shared with festive humour, the underlying message is critically serious. "We’re here 24/7 for you over Christmas, but let’s be sensible, some things don’t need a police response," the force stated.
They confirmed that officers were not deployed to any of these reports, emphasising that such calls waste precious time and resources. "Please help us to help you this Christmas by only calling 999 if there is a crime in progress or someone is in immediate danger," the spokesperson urged.
How to Contact Police Appropriately
For non-emergency matters, the public is advised to use alternative methods to contact the police. The force directed people to their official website or the non-emergency number, 101.
"Contacting us appropriately means we are better placed to help those most in need," the statement concluded, before wishing the public a Happy Christmas from everyone in the Warwickshire Police control room.
