'We're stuck in mum's handcuffs'

Thankfully, police are used to releasing people from handcuffs

Two worried young children phoned police for help when they found handcuffs in their parents' bedroom, put them on - and could not escape.

It was one of the top 10 strange calls received by Dyfed-Powys Police during the past six months.

There was also the woman who found a tarantula in a bunch of bananas... which turned out to be a leaf.

The force has set up a new number, 0845 330 2000, for non-emergency calls to ease pressure on 999 operators.

The new number replaces the 43 different police station numbers which were available.

Some calls never cease to amaze our trained telephone operators Ch Insp Iain Sewell

Ch Insp Iain Sewell said: "Our aim is to make it easy for people to contact us.

"But some calls never cease to amaze our trained telephone operators.

"We wish to be helpful but while requests for directions, bin bags or weather reports may sound amusing, there is a serious implication when it stops our staff dealing with matters of real concern, real emergencies where a life could be in danger.

"I hope people will store the new telephone number and use it for non-emergency calls in the future; calls which report an incident or crime that has already taken place and is no longer urgent; calls about cases or for information that are police matters," he added.

The new number is being introduced after it emerged that just one in five 999 calls to the police was for a genuine emergency.

It's a popular urban myth that tarantulas pop out of fruit

"People perceive the police as a service to the community - a one-stop shop for advice on all kinds of things," said Ch Insp Sewell.

"Many like the fact that they can speak to real people and not the automated service which many companies provide.

"Although we are here to help and treat all calls the same, it is important that people do not abuse the telephone line and use it only for the correct purposes," he said.

Top 10 strange calls

1. Two young embarrassed children: "Can you send the police up here? Mum and dad went out and we found some handcuffs in their bedroom and put them on and now we're stuck together and don't have a key. Come quick, they'll be home soon."

2. A woman rang up screaming that she had been to her local supermarket and bought bananas. When she got them home, a tarantula crawled out. It turned out to be a leaf from the garden.

3. "My husband's late home from work. Where is he?" (Police said: "A call like this could be important ... but this was just a personal moan").

4. "What's the weather like in Carmarthen? There's snow in Brecon."

5. A school rang up to say there was a pigeon in the building and wanted police to get it out.

6. A man rang to say that he had received an electricity bill but had already paid it. It turned out he had changed supplier so had two bills.

7. "Get the police now, there's a peacock on my lawn."

8. Man: "My next door neighbour is in my garden". Police: "Have you asked him what he's doing?", Man: "No. Get the police straight away." (It turned out he was gardening).

9. "I've lost my snake in the house."

10. A teenager rang to say he missed the bus home from school and wanted a lift from the police as his dad could not pick him up.