POLICE bosses have defended the under-fire 101 non-emergency number, saying soaring call numbers have put it under pressure.

The number of 999 calls being made has grown by so many recently that controllers have had to cope with “New Year’s Eve” levels of demand on normal days, they said, and that has had a knock-on effect on the non-emergency number.

The 101 service has been criticised recently, and on Monday the county council called for an “urgent review” after poor performance results over recent months.

Now Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward has defended the services. She said: “Like most forces across the country, we are currently experiencing high demand in the force control room with an increase in calls – particularly 999 calls - of around 20 per cent since May 2017.

“For example, on Sunday, June 18, we received more calls than on New Year’s Eve, which historically is our busiest day of the year and is planned for in advance.”

Between July 2 and 24 the force received 6,114 calls to 999 - a 25 per cent increase on the previous year. Non-emergency 101 calls had also increased by nearly six per cent to 20,498. The soaring call numbers in North Yorkshire reflect a wider national picture, a police spokesman said, and work is being done nationally to find out what is behind that trend.

DCC Winward added: “I would like to reassure members of the public that we are implementing a number of measures to help deal with the unprecedented increase in demand, now and into the future, but this cannot be done overnight.

“999 emergency calls must take precedence over non-emergencies, and the increase is having a knock-on effect on the time it takes to answer non-emergency calls.”

She asked the public to “bear with us” as control room staff try to improve the situation. She said: “Our control room staff are working extremely hard as we work to service the increase in demand and implement the changes. It is a very fast-paced and pressurised environment and I must pay tribute to the commitment and resilience they have shown during this time.” DCC Winward asked people to use 101 “in the correct circumstances” and said the police website has information about the best way to be in touch, or when to call other bodies.