Plan to put 999 callers on hold

Fire Brigade bosses have drawn up secret plans to put 999 callers on hold, it was revealed today.

People phoning the emergency services could be told: "All our operators are busy at present but your call will be answered shortly."

The plans emerged in a leaked memo from a senior officer in the London brigade to other bosses across the country.

The letter, sent on 31 August, said: "I am conducting a survey of the emergency services regarding the use of recorded

messages on incoming 999 lines The sort of thing I have in mind is along the lines of 'All of our operators are busy at present but your call will be answered shortly'."

But today the letter, issued on behalf of London's principal fire control officer, was slammed by the Fire Brigades Union as "totally unacceptable".

FBU president Ruth Winters said: "People trapped in fires don't want to be stuck on hold listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons." At present, she said, calls are answered in seconds and a response made within a minute.

Ms Winters claimed the move was another bid to save money. The FBU thinks the Government has plans to axe a third of the 1,500 fire control staff.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman: "We are looking at a range of options to deal with the very rare occasions when emergency calls are not answered within seconds, such as during major storms."