WEST Yorkshire Police are again asking for the public’s help following an increase in calls for service.

Last year, the force launched a campaign asking the public to ‘help us to help you’ by using their online contact options where possible instead of calling 101.

Advice was also given on calls that should be for another organisation, inappropriate 999 calls and what to do if you call 999 in error.

In 2023 so far, West Yorkshire Police has been receiving an average of around 1,300 999 calls and 2,000 101 calls every day, and these numbers are increasing.

Tanya Shackleton, Senior Contact Manager at West Yorkshire Police, said: “Unfortunately, we are starting to see an increase in calls on both our emergency and non-emergency lines.

“I want to make it clear that this is not about deterring people from contacting the police and if there is a threat to life or a crime in progress then we absolutely want people to be phoning us on 999.

"To have the capacity to deal with the legitimate emergency demand though, we need to ensure that we are reducing inappropriate and unnecessary demand and making the most of our online contact alternatives.”