Wiltshire Police has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the appropriate use of the 101 and 999 phone numbers.

The campaign, entitled Who You Gonna Call? will run on social media throughout the week and will culminate in a 12-hour tweetathon on Friday (Jan 22).

As well as highlighting when and when not to call 999 and 101, the campaign aims to reduce demand on the service, signpost the public to partner agencies who may be able to better deal with their concerns, and showcase the good work of our call operators.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “It’s very important to me that Wiltshire Police is always seeking to improve its standard of service.

"That means, among other things, an unfailing and timely response to calls for help from the public.

“In 2014 I invested the money to allow a full makeover of the Crime and Communication Centre and as a result we now have a much more effective and efficient working environment, and that helps the excellent team who work here to provide the best possible service to the people of Wiltshire and Swindon.”

In 2015, Wiltshire Police received a total of 325,075 101 calls and 63,016 999 calls.

Last month, call operators dealt with 5,488 999 calls, the majority of which were from people in a genuine emergency.

However, the Force is continuing to receive a small number of calls that are inappropriate.

Chief Constable, Mike Veale, said: “999 - it is a number everyone knows, whether they are three or 93.

"Fortunately, not all of us will ever need to dial it, but for those that do, it is likely to be a time of panic, hysteria, anger and confusion.

"Our trained call handlers deal with these extreme emotions on a daily basis and always in a calm and professional manner.

“Speak to any call handler and every single one of them will have a story to tell; someone else’s emergency which they have found themselves in the centre of with the click of just three numbers.

"It’s a huge responsibility and it can happen at any time, whether you’ve been in the job weeks, months or years.

Wiltshire Police are stressing how important it is to think before dialling 999 and to only do so in an emergency.

If a police response is not required immediately the public are urged to call 101.

Dial 999 if:

- You need an immediate response because a crime is in progress or you think it is.

- You or someone else is injured or there is a threat to life.

- A serious road traffic collision has taken place.

- Violence is being used or threatened.

Dial 101 in a non-emergency if:

- You want to report a crime/issue that does not require an immediate emergency response.

- You or someone else are not in immediate danger

- You would like to speak to your local police officer.

- You want to provide information about a crime.