CHILDREN playing with phones could divert police officers away from real emergencies.

That is the warning from police who are urging parents to keep little fingers away from phones. The warning comes after 134 abandoned 999 calls were logged in the Maidstone and Malling area in September.

Most of those were made by children playing with phones. An abandoned call is one where the caller hangs up abruptly.

Acting Sgt Mark Hedges said: "If someone phones 999 and then ends the call, our call-handlers will spend a significant amount of time trying to re-contact that person, to check that they're all right.

"Quite often, a patrol will be sent to the address the phone call is traced to, so officers can be sure the people are safe and well and not experiencing any problems.

"Clearly, abandoned 999 calls could potentially divert our call handlers and in some situations, our police officers, from dealing with real emergencies.

"We understand children will be children, but we would like to advise parents to make sure their home phones and mobiles are kept in sensible places out of children's reach in the house.

"We would also ask if your children are old enough that you educate them with regards to the 999 system.

"Lastly, we ask if you know your child has dialled 999 and there is no emergency, please contact the police and tell them it will save us time and resources to know why a call has been abandoned."