Officers are reminding the public to only call the number in urgent or life-threatening situations.
Met call handlers say they have been contacted by people frustrated by their delivery drivers not turning up over the last year.
Another call was from someone who had a spider in their room and in another instance, because their dog wouldn’t get back in the house.
Commander Caroline Haines who heads up the Met’s Command and Control said:
“When someone’s life is in danger, or a crime is being committed, seconds count. Unfortunately, too many people call 999 for things that simply aren’t an emergency or a matter for police.
“These calls could mean someone who is in genuine need and danger must wait longer to get the help they urgently need.
“That is why we’re running a campaign to remind the public of the other ways they can contact us, so we can focus on keeping London safe. Let’s keep 999 free for those who genuinely need it.”
Some of the main reasons for calling 999 unnecessarily include: asking for updates on previous crime reports, reporting crimes which aren’t immediately happening; reporting items stolen days or even weeks later, or civil disputes, such as arguments between tenants and landlords.
