FEWER than one in six 999 calls made to Hampshire police was a genuine emergency, it has been revealed.

The 15 per cent of requests that needed an urgent response in 2010/11 was one of the lowest anywhere in the country, according to statistics obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Hoaxers and people reporting non-emergencies are being blamed for the numbers.

Hampshire Constabulary received 243,601 calls over the year, but just 36,234 were classed as an emergency.

Police in Hampshire last night said the statistics show some people need to think before calling the emergency number.

A force spokesman said: “Although only 15 per cent are classed as emergencies, it doesn’t mean to say the other 85 per cent are false or malicious calls.

“They could also include genuine enquiries which would be better served by our 101 telephone number.

“That’s why we’d ask everyone with a genuine reason to call the police to think twice before you dial 999.

“Is someone injured? Is life in danger? Is violence involved? Is the crime or accident actually happening now? If you cannot answer yes to at least one of these questions you should not dial 999.

“If it’s not an emergency, call 101.

“There is simply no excuse for hoax calls – those where members of the public are dialling 999 with the clear intention to mislead the emergency services.

“Our control room staff do not know if the information they are given is correct or not, and we will respond as quickly as we can if it appears to be a genuine emergency.

“By knowingly giving us wrong information, these people waste our time and resources.

“A controller busy with a 999 hoax call is not available to deal with other, genuine 999 calls which might actually be a matter of life or death.”