LESS than one third of all 999 calls to Lancashire Constabulary in the first half of this year were genuine emergencies.

People have been known to use the emergency lifeline to ask for legal advice, report an assault which happened the previous day, because they are on holiday and don't know the number of the local police station, or even just because it's a free call.

And while the operator is listening to these calls, a real emergency could have been waiting to be answered.

The force is becoming increasingly concerned at the misuse of the 999 line and is launching a campaign, with support from the Citizen, to try and reduce the number of non-emergency 999 calls.

Inspector Grant Spooner, from Blackpool Communications, said: "Misuse of the emergency line is common.

"Recently we had a call from an elderly woman who had missed the last ten minutes of Coronation Street and wanted to know what had happened.

"Another person rang us up on a very busy Saturday night asking if we could recommend a good take-away which was open.

"We also get calls asking what time the Illuminations are being switched on and if it's okay to park on double yellow lines on Bank Holidays.

"Our staff can only answer so many calls at once and while they are answering these calls there could be someone whose life is in danger waiting in the queue."

There is also a problem with hoax calls as Inspector Phil Cawley, from St Annes police, explained: "We have calls claiming bombs have been planted and, of course, we start thinking about terrorism and have to check them out.

"It can be very time consuming."

As a general rule the 999 number should only be used in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress.

For any other cases call your local police station on 293933 for the Blackpool area, 736222 in the Lytham St Annes area and 876611 in Thornton, Cleveleys and Poulton.

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