Chief Constable Tim Forber has issued an urgent public appeal after North Yorkshire Police recorded an exceptionally busy summer spike, driven by a combination of intense hot weather, the ongoing World Cup, and seasonal tourism. To illustrate the scale of the crisis, the force handled over 3,000 emergency 999 calls in a single week—a massive leap from the 2,400 calls received during the exact same week last year. While the 999 line remains strictly reserved for immediate emergencies, the Chief Constable is pleading with residents and visitors to utilise the police website's online reporting tools and callback features for 101 non-urgent queries to keep critical lines open for those in immediate danger.
North Yorkshire Police Issue Emergency Summer Alert as 999 Call Volumes Explode
15 July 2026
Police chiefs are urging the public to use online services for non-emergency queries this afternoon, warning that control room staff are facing an unprecedented surge in 999 emergency calls