WE are being constantly told not to ring 999 unless it is urgent. The following may be the reason why people ring 999.

I recently wanted to contact Rubery police station to report a matter of criminal damage and to obtain a crime number for insurance purposes.

I rang the telephone number shown in the telephone directory and was informed that the number was not recognised. Thinking that I had misdialled I repeated the process with the same result. I then obtained the number of Bromsgrove police station with the same result. Next Redditch police station and again "number not recognised".

Finally I rang Hindlip Court, near Worcester, and was answered. I explained the reason that I had called and was put through to a lady in some department and my inquiry was dealt with. I then asked her if she could give me the number of Rubery Police Station and her reply was "I don't know but I will ring you back".

Her answer when she rang back was "Ring the number that you used to ring here and ask for extension 3122".

It is much easier to ring 999.

Perplexed

Rubery