On Monday 4 September a Worksop man appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court charged with misusing the 999 system and wasting police time.
Since May 2023, he made over 180 silent 999 calls to the emergency services.
This misuse not only drains valuable resources but also disrupts the efficiency of emergency response system.
Repeatedly dispatching officers to handle non-emergency calls diverts their attention from those in real need. This can lead to longer wait times for genuine emergencies, potentially putting lives at risk.
Police said:
‘He was found guilty of the two offences and sentenced to four weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 60 hours of community service, and a two-year criminal behaviour order.
‘This order includes specific conditions, allowing 999 calls only in emergencies and requiring the caller to state their name, the nature of the emergency, and their location.’
PC Lee Ryan of Worksop Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “I hope this sends out a strong warning to anyone intent on misusing the 999 system, which is designed for genuine emergencies, crimes and where life is at risk.
“We will use all our tools available to curb this behaviour including the use of Criminal Behaviour Orders.”
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