“IT’S Christmas and I’m smashed out of my nut - get me a cab home.” – that was a 999 call received on Christmas Eve by a Surrey Police call handler.

Improper use of the emergency number is a regular issue in the force’s contact centre and it has taken the opportunity to remind people of alternative ways of contacting the police.

The 999 emergency number should only be used to contact police for situations where someone is in danger or when a crime is actually taking place.

Alternatively, call 101 or use Surrey Police’s online reporting services to contact the force if it isn’t an emergency situation.

Head of the Surrey Police contact centre Sarah Durston said: “Although most people use the emergency number correctly, this call is a perfect example of when it has not been used correctly.

“This caller who did not have an emergency may have prevented someone else who was in danger from getting through to us. This presents a real risk to our ability to respond to genuine emergency calls.”