One person called 999 because there was a spider in their room
Fresh data from the Metropolitan Police has revealed only 15 per cent of 999 calls are genuine emergencies. Officers have issued an appeal to the public to only call in urgent or life-threatening situations.
The force said over the past year, its handlers have been called by people frustrated by their delivery drivers not turning up, someone who had a spider in their room and in one instance because their dog was not coming back into the house.
Scotland Yard said these calls take up valuable call handler time that stops them from dealing with genuine emergencies. From July 2024 to July 2025 more than four million incidents were reported, of which 2.2 million were reported via 999 calls.
The top two reasons for 999 calls in this period were abandoned calls, which made up 22 per cent, and what the Met called ‘contact record’, which covers instances where people are ringing to report further information on a crime already reported or to request a crime reference number, which made up 21 per cent.
Commander Caroline Haines who heads up the Met’s Command and Control has urged the Londoners to think before they call. She said: “When someone’s life is in danger, or a crime is being committed, seconds count. Unfortunately, too many people call 999 for things that simply aren’t an emergency or a matter for police,” she said. “These calls could mean someone who is in genuine need and danger must wait longer to get the help they urgently need.
“That is why we’re running a campaign to remind the public of the other ways they can contact us, so we can focus on keeping London safe. Let’s keep 999 free for those who genuinely need it.”
Some of the main reasons for calling 999 unnecessarily include asking for updates on previous crime reports, reporting crimes which aren’t immediately happening, reporting items stolen days or even weeks later, or civil disputes, such as arguments between tenants and landlords.
The force has reminded people that you should only call if a crime is in progress, there is a threat to life or someone is in immediate danger. People should call 101 to report a crime that has previously happened or for low-level situations such as a noise complaint or anti-social behaviour.
Those who accidentally call 999 are asked to stay on the phone until they have spoken to an operator, otherwise handlers have to spend time undertaking a risk assessment to make sure the person who called isn’t in danger. – which can take up to 15 minutes.
For non-emergencies Londoners should continue to call 101 or report the incident online.
Sign up to our London Crimewatch WhatsApp community for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your phone. Sign up HERE. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the MyLondon team. We also treat our subscribers to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To unsubscribe, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
