Editing 999 (emergency telephone number) (section)

===Abandoned and hoax calls===
An abandoned call is when a caller, intentionally or otherwise, rings 999 and then ends the call or stays silent. Abandoned calls are filtered by emergency operators BT and Cable & Wireless, and are either disconnected or passed on to police.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.herts.police.uk/contact_us/silent_999_calls.aspx |title=Silent 999 Calls |website=[[Hertfordshire Constabulary]] |access-date=1 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606140719/https://www.herts.police.uk/contact_us/silent_999_calls.aspx |archive-date=6 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

They are normally disconnected by the operator repeating "Emergency. Which service?", then if no response is given, the operator will say "Do you need police, fire or ambulance?". If there is still no response, the operator will sometimes ask the caller to press the keypad or make a noise if they need assistance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/advice/silent-solution---999-and-55/|title=Silent Solution - Thames Valley Police'|date=16 July 2021|access-date=16 July 2021|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716130754/https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/advice/silent-solution---999-and-55/|url-status=live}}</ref> If no response is given, they will confirm they are clearing the line.

For abandoned calls, if the caller requests the police and the call is routed to police and then the line is dropped, either while waiting for connection or on the line with police, they are checked by police and called back. If there is no answer, the police service are likely to attend and if the line is disconnected without the caller telling the operator which service they need, they then make a decision to filter the call to police (if suspicious background noise) or clear the line.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

The most common reasons for abandoned calls include:{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
* [[Pocket dialling|Accidental dialling]] of 999 on mobile phones. As a GSM standard, mobile phones still allow emergency calls to be made even with the keypad locked.
* Faulty phone lines.
* Believing [[999 phone charging myth|an urban myth that says dialling 999 charges mobile phone batteries]].