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Police today (January 28) appealed to people to use the 999 hotline service only for emergencies.
In 2008, the Police Regional Command and Control Centres received 2 279 672 calls, of which only 44% or 995 188 calls were genuine. The other 56%, or 1 284 484 calls were nuisance or misdialled.
A Police spokesman said that misuse of the emergency hotline would unnecessarily engage operators of the control centres and delay the handling of genuine emergencies.
"It could also endanger the lives of people at risk by postponing their access to the service," he said.
The spokesman said that Police stations in various districts could also promptly handle most crime reports and requests of a non-emergency nature.
Police contact cards containing the telephone and fax numbers of all Police stations as well as Police hotlines are available for collection at various Police stations and Public Enquiry Service Centres of Home Affairs Department.
Police Report No. 3
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:21
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