A mistake with a chip shop order and a complaint about an out-of-date packet of biscuits were among the time-wasting calls made to the UK's largest police force this year.
The Metropolitan Police revealed that at least 22,491 hoax calls were made in the first 11 months of 2019, as well as 2,912 made to the 101 non-emergency police line.
The calls included a woman complaining after being sent three saveloy and chips from the chip shop instead of one and a man complaining about a packet of biscuits being out of date.
In another incident, a man can be heard asking the operator for the time. She responds by reminding him that he has called the emergency line before adding "it's quarter to five" and ending the call.
Audio of some of the calls made to 999 when it was not an emergency have now been released by police to highlight how it can block the line for others in need.
"Not only did these calls waste police time and resources, they also potentially put Londoners at risk in what could be a life-or-death situation," the Met said in a statement.
Chief Superintendent David Jackson, who is in charge of call handling for the Met, said: "Although these calls can be perceived as amusing, they are actually a huge waste of the Met's resources.
"These hoax calls block the number from other members of the public who could be calling 999 in a real emergency, keeping people in danger waiting for longer and putting lives at risk.
"If you are in a situation where you need to speak to the police, please think. The use of the 999 system is for emergencies only and we have other channels where you can speak with us."
The force said it received 2,157,080 999 calls between January 1 and November 30 this year.
