EMERGENCIES could be reponded to more quickly if people take time out and think before dialling 999.

That's the message from police in Preston who this week joined forces with the Citizen in a campaign to reduce the number of non-emergency 999 calls.

The move came after Lancashire Constabulary became increasingly concerned when figures showed almost half of last year's 50,000 emergency calls didn't actually need immediate attention.

And it has been exactly the case at Preston station where recent 999 calls have included people reporting noisy parties, reporting lost dogs and even one man enquiring how his application to join the force was going!

PC Janice Smith, of Preston's communications staff, said: "I don't know of any cases where we haven't been able to get to an emergency because of these types of call but the potential is there.

"People block the emergency line because they often think the only number to call the police is 999.

"Callers can actually get a better service if they ring the normal number for non-emergency matters. We aim to answer all 999 calls within 10 seconds and other calls make it very difficult to maintain that level of service."

Police have published the correct numbers for you to keep by the phone and ring for non-emergency calls. They are Preston: 203203; Leyland: 433561.

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