Complaints about cold kebabs, clowns and bacon sandwiches among most pointless 999 calls in 2015

'A woman called 999 to say she was angry because she had seen a clown in London selling balloons for £5 each, much more expensive than other clowns selling the same product'

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The Met Police has revealed its most pointless 999 calls of the last year – including a woman who was angry that a clown was selling balloons for £5 and another who wanted to complain about her cold kebab.

The list of 10 example calls which did not require a police response were released by the Met in a bid to urge members of the public to only call 999 in genuine emergencies.

More than 4.5 million calls are made on average each year to 999 and the non-emergency number 101, it said.

But it reminded the public that clowns and kebabs, faulty alarm clocks, foxes, bacon sandwiches and washing machines are not what 999 operators need to hear about.

The 10 examples of calls made over trivial matters to the Met Police in the last year:

A woman called the police to say she had just bought a cold kebab and the shop had refused to replace it.

Some callers had missed their alarms and wanted police officers to take them to the airport so they would not miss their flights.

A woman called 999 to say that she was angry because she had seen a clown in London selling balloons for £5 each. This price was much more expensive than other clowns selling the same product, the police were informed.

Some people called the emergency number in distress – because, as they were driving, the low fuel indicator light had illuminated on their dashboards.

One man telephoned to say that his 50p piece was stuck in a washing machine at his local launderette and that he wanted the police to come and retrieve the coin for him.

Another told a 999 operator that he did not have the change required for a car parking machine. He claimed that the staff of the car park in question had kidnapped him because they were refusing to let him drive out for free.

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“Where is the best place to get a bacon sandwich right now?” was the question on one caller’s hungry lips, who telephoned 999 at 4am on a Saturday.

One man called 999 as he had been advised to call 111 but said that he did not know its number.

Feisty foxes were the trouble of choice for another woman. She said she wanted the police to come round and deal with a couple of the noisy animals outside her house one night as they were stopping her from sleeping.

Another lady called the police asking them to come urgently as there were men in her house trying to take her away. The men were, in fact, police officers who were at her home to arrest her.

In light of this selection of bizarre requests, the Met has urged people only to call 999 if:

• Someone’s life is at risk or someone is being physically threatened.
• When a crime is happening or if those carrying it out are nearby.
• There has been a road accident in which people have been hurt or are in danger.

Members of the public should report less urgent crime, such as a stolen car, damaged property, or drug use, by calling its non-emergency 101 number.

Abandoned calls are not classified as nuisance calls but take up operators’ time as the majority of them have to be called back to ensure the emergency services are not required, the Met said.

Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills, head of the Met’s command and control, added: “This is just a sample of inappropriate calls received by our operators this year.

“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.

“We want Londoners to have a safe and enjoyable festive season.

“In the event that officers are required, we need calls to reach us swiftly.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that, if it is not an emergency, then please dial 101, our non-emergency number.”