Proper use of 999 hotline urged
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Police today (July 19) appealed to people to use the 999 hotline service only for emergencies.

In the first half of this year, the Police Regional Command and Control Centres received 1 055 466 calls, of which only 46% or 483 543 calls were genuine. The other 54% or 571 923 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. 4
Issued by PPRB

Ends/Sunday, July 19, 2009
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