'My oven doesn't work': Sheffield police reveal the strangest and most inappropriate 999 calls

Last month, 19,512 calls were made to South Yorkshire Police via 999.

Another 26,592 calls were made on the 101 number.

But not all callers had genuine emergencies to report, with one 999 caller reporting their oven not working and complaining because they wanted to make a shepherd’s pie.

Another dialled 999 to ask if somebody could move their bins.

The force also revealed that one caller rang up to report an onion being thrown at their house, another drunken caller rang to report concerns about a chicken and a woman called to complain that she had been woken up by her neighbour’s flashing Christmas lights.

A 999 call was also received from a man reporting that he had been sold out of date food at his local shop.

Superintendent Becs Horsfall, Head of Force Communications at South Yorkshire Police, said: “Unfortunately for some South Yorkshire residents, the answer to any of their unusual problems is to dial the emergency only 999 number and ask for the police.

“Whilst on the surface it can seem harmless or even amusing that people might call us to report a faulty oven or an uncooked shepherd’s pie, there is a serious side to these calls. People ringing 999 for unnecessary reasons takes up call handlers time and potentially puts other people’s lives at risk.

“Every second a call handler spends on the phone to someone who is not experiencing a genuine emergency is critical time, it could be being used to help someone who really does need our help.

“Our staff are trained extensively to identify people who might be in crisis and they regularly signpost, support and deploy resources if there is concern for anyone’s mental health or physical safety.

“Please think before you call and use 999 responsibly.”

Last month the busiest day for call handlers was January 14, when 1,756 calls were made to the force.

Analysis shows that the average wait for a 101 call to be answered was 4 minutes and 29 seconds.