'THINK before you dial' — that's the message from Devon and Cornwall Police throughout the coming year.

The force is asking people to think carefully before calling 999 or 101 and to only do so in an emergency or to report a non-urgent crime.

Devon and Cornwall's two contact centres in Plymouth and Exeter receive more than a million calls a year.

Over the last couple of weeks chief superintendent Jim Nye, head of operations, has provided examples of inappropriate calls received via the force's non-emergency 101 number.

Members of the public have rung in to:

• Report that their budgie had escaped and was in a tree, and could police get it.

• Complain that some public toilets were closed.

• Ask if it was illegal to urinate in their own garden — if spotted by a drone.

Chief superintendent Nye said: 'Clearly none of these are police matters.

'While these examples may raise a smile they are unacceptable uses of the 101 service and underline an issue which is increasing call waiting times for callers who genuinely need help.

'Over the next 12 months we will be introducing new technology, new systems of working and additional staff to our contact centres to reduce call waiting and deployment times.

'We'll also be producing materials online and in print about when it is appropriate for the public to call the police and when it is not, and when another agency is the most appropriate to get in touch with.'

A full range of contact information can be found on the police website at http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact">www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact

The Devon and Cornwall Police website already contains online reporting forms which can be used for a range of issues, including lost and found property and for making a complaint.