Hear the moment a woman calls 999 to complain about her ICE CREAM
This is the moment a woman called West Midlands Police on 999 to complain about a lack of topping on her ice cream.
The woman dialed the emergency number to complain that an ice cream man had only put topping on one side of it.
When she asked for her money back, the man refused and she dialled 999.
The patient 999 operator told the woman it was not an emergency and she needed to speak to trading standards officials or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The call was made yesterday.
Chief Superintendent Jim Andronov, head of the force's Contact Centre, said: "Typically West Midlands Police receive over 1500 calls a day to the 999 number and our operatives have to deal with each one accordingly.
"Of these, some 10 to 20 per cent are not police matters and around 50 per cent are non-emergency calls where contact is appropriate via the 101 number.
"As well as the bizarre calls police also receive deliberate hoax calls which take up vital time.
"It's astonishing listening to them but they hide a serious truth. Each call often takes minutes to deal with as staff have to clarify the situation - it might not sound like much but, if someone is trying to get through to report a genuine life or death emergency, then a minute is a very long time to wait.
"I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only, for guidance this is defined as: a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.
"We do not want to discourage people from contacting the police so for any other reason call 101."
