• AS I came out of Sainsbury’s in Camden Road a crazed drunk was trying to kick a large rubbish bin into the path of the traffic.

Failing this he got even more violent, and then punched an elderly man hard in the chest. Being disabled all I could do was shout at the drunk and call 999.

Instead of being asked what service I needed, an automated reply said: “All our operatives are busy at the moment please call back”. Yes, please call back!

I could not believe this and called 999 again, the same message was played.

A friend was telling me she had just been in a bad car accident and was injured and had called the police and ambulance service only to hear the same message as I had: “All our operatives are busy at the moment please call back”.

If the message I received was a one-off it would still be inexcusable. But it seems this is normal practice. What if a mother and child where trapped in their burning home only to get: “We are too busy to answer your call please call back?”.

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