Overview
- In the year to July 2025, the Met recorded over 4 million incidents, including more than 2.2 million via 999, with only 15% requiring immediate dispatch.
- Abandoned calls accounted for 22% of 999 volume and ‘contact record’ calls 21%, with roughly 88% and 97% respectively needing no police response.
- Each abandoned 999 call triggers about 15 minutes of follow‑up checks by call handlers, reducing capacity to respond to real emergencies.
- Police guidance reiterates that 999 is for crimes in progress, threats to life, or immediate danger, while 101 or online channels should be used for non‑urgent issues.
- To illustrate misuse, the Met shared calls about a missing food delivery, a spider in a room, and a dog that would not return, and it asks accidental callers to stay on the line.