A PERSON called 999 about a strawberry falling on the floor.

The call was one of many inappropriate and hoax calls made to Cleveland Police this year.

Police are warning those people that make inappropriate calls not to misuse the system as it could put lives in danger by preventing someone in a genuine emergency from getting through.

Often these calls are well-intentioned, but should be directed elsewhere.

Other calls were about itchy stretch marks, a man in need of dental treatment and a call about leaking water.

Hoax callers are also being warned that they could face prosecution should they deliberately misuse valuable resources.

Between January and October this year, police received 1,648 hoax calls, including people rapping, singing and swearing at call takers.

Superintendent Alison Jackson, who works alongside Sopra Steria to run the Force Control Room, said: “This example provides just a glimpse of the many inappropriate and non-policing related calls that we receive on a daily basis.

“Our time is precious, we are here to save lives and to protect the community.

“Each inappropriate call impacts on our ability to carry out our policing role and ties-up call takers and resources that could be directed elsewhere.

“We urge people to think before they dial and ask themselves, is this a policing issue, and if so, would it require an emergency response? Of course if it is a policing matter, we will deal with it based on threat, harm, risk and vulnerability of the caller.”