MANCHESTER – A man dialled 999 to ask police how long it would take to defrost his Christmas turkey.
Greater Manchester Police have released a recording of the call in a bid to deter others from wasting their time with calls which are not genuine emergencies.
It comes in the run-up to New Year’s Eve, the busiest night of the year for officers.
In the call the man asks: “How long do you defrost a turkey for?” The disgruntled call handler then tells the man that they will arrange to have his phone blocked before asking if he has a “genuine emergency”. The man replies: “It is an emergency. Do I take the giblets out before I defrost it?”
On average, Manchester police handle 1,400 emergency calls each day, but last New Year’s Eve there were 3,228.
“The 999 number is only to be used in emergencies where there is a threat to life or property or a crime in progress,” a spokeswoman said.
Recent examples of 999 being misused include people asking for directions, asking where the nearest restaurant is or wishing police a happy new year. – (PA)