New Year celebrations mark busy night for emergency services

Thousands of 999 calls were made as people saw out the decade and welcomed 2020.

West Midlands Police took 2,666 calls for help from members of the public between 7pm on New Year's Eve and 7am yesterday morning.

The figure includes 2,060 999 calls were taken during the 12-hour period, with 98 per cent being answered inside just 10 seconds – with the force praising the "great" effort.

It marked a substantial decrease from last year, with the force answering 3,255 emergency calls and 1,963 101 calls.

The figures come after West Midlands Police revealed 21 officers were attacked on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2019.

Elsewhere, West Midlands Ambulance Service which operates across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire, took more than 1,000 calls in the first six hours of 2020.

They received a call every 20 seconds on average.

The service posted: "Well, we’re well into the new year and as the sun has risen, hundreds of our staff are heading to bed after a tough shift.

"Over 1,000 999 calls in the first six hours – one every 20 seconds. It’s been a busy start to 2020. Thanks to all of our staff for your amazing efforts."

Last year the service received 2,140 calls between New Year's Eve to 6am on New Year's Day.

West Mercia Police received a total of 625 between 11am on New Year's Eve and 7am the following day.

Call handlers took 371 emergency 999 calls, up one per cent from last year, and 254 101 calls - down 14 per cent from last year.

The force were deployed to 141 incidents - 30 less than last year.

They received a 999 call every 37 seconds at its peak at 1am, with the average wait time being seven seconds.

West Mercia Police tweeted: "Big thanks to all our staff for their hard work over the Christmas period."

Figures for calls handled by Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire & Rescue were unavailable.