A SOCIAL media takeover gave us a peek into the daily life of a Wiltshire Police call handler.

The force handed over control of its Facebook and Twitter feeds to control centre staff on Saturday to give the public some idea of the work they do and the nuisance caused by hoax calls or reports that should not have been made on the emergency number.

As of 2am, staff had 26 incidents logged around the county. While Friday night turned into Saturday morning, they recieved a range of calls which included brawls in night clubs and alarms going off at commercial businesses.

One partygoer accidentally pocket-dialled 999 and left the confused call handler listening to music.

A police spokesman said: "Please note if you ever dial 999 and don’t speak we will continue to make efforts to get back through to you as we treat every call as an emergency."

As of 5am, they had hit a total of 448 999 calls and 446 101 calls. Most were "of good quality" and officers were dispatched as appropriate, though a couple of calls should not have been made.

One person called 999 to complain about the price of cocktails in pubs. Another called 999 asking for the non emergency number, 101.

Just before the night shift team prepared to head home at 7am, they received a report in relation to suspicious vehicle in a residential estate. The caller gave the location and car registration of the vehicle, so officers were sent to have a look. They found and dealt with the suspect.

Around midday, there were 148 active logs, with calls in the previous hour including a caravan broken down on the A303, a traveller incursion in Highworth and a tree down in Chippenham taking out a power cable.

Since the day shift started at 7am, the centre's staff had answered 87 999 calls and 150 '101' calls.

The police spokesman added: "Still lots going on, although the weather might have kept a few people home. We never like to mention the word ‘quiet’ though, as you never know what will happen next in the emergency services."

Call handler Maria received a 999 call from someone broken down in a layby. The caller explained she was advised to contact the cops by her recovery company but drivers should only do this if in immediate danger to themselves or other road users.

This particular call would have been better going to 101 for the force to make a note of and alert officers.

Another inappropirate 999 call came in from a member of public reporting that a car has been parked in their car parking space for more than a month.

The police spokesman added: While the person thought it could be abandoned, this is not a police matter, let alone a 999 emergency.

"This is a matter to be dealt with, with assistance of the local authority, but as it is private land, it is the landowner’s responsibility to move it.

"For more on nuisance parking, go to www.wiltshire.police.uk/.../ant.../nuisance-parking"

As the Saturdya night shift arrived, the control centre had answered 181 999 and 240 101 calls as well as logging 314 incidents to deal with. 

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said; "Nuisance calls take up the valuable time of our call handlers, and sometimes our officers to follow up.

"It’s worthwhile being aware of the auto functions of your mobile phone as 999 calls can still be made from your lock screen on most smartphones.

"If you press your home screen one too many times, this can also set off an automatic emergency call which comes through to our call handlers."

At 7.20pm, officers were sent to a domestic assault in Wootton Bassett which resulted in an arrest being made.

An elderly gentleman with dementia was found with the support of officers in Trowbridge and other officers responded to a call about someone being unconscious on a bench in Swindon.