Police dispel 999 myth

Our region's police forces are warning people not to dial 999 in the belief it can boost a phone's battery life.

There is an urban myth that calling 999 and disconnecting immediately can increase the power in a mobile phone.

Bedfordshire Police say it is simply not true, but they have received numerous calls from people believing the urban myth over the past six months. They say it can have serious consequences.

Misusing the 999 number is a criminal offence, and the police also have the power to disconnect mobile phones.

They are reminding people that the only way to boost battery life is by using a mobile phone charger.