THE message from Gwent Police’s control room this Christmas is “don’t call unless you need us” as call handlers gear up for one of their busiest times of year.

While most people will be putting their feet up to enjoy the festivities, the force control room will be a hive of activity as hundreds of alcohol-related 999 calls come flooding in.

Control room manager Joanne Glastonbury-Watkins expects Boxing Day night and New Year’s Eve to see the highest demand due to the excessive amounts of alcohol being consumed.

She said: “On Christmas Day, the morning is generally ok in terms of demand but we tend to see a rise in the afternoon. Boxing Day is a big drinking day, people go out and get into trouble.”

Superintendent Paul Evans said: “Over the last two or three years, Newport County have become more and more successful, they’re playing Boxing Day and they are expecting the biggest crowd they’ve seen.

“If there’s a punch-up in town with football-related violence, it comes through us.”

The force has handled 4.8 million calls in the last six years, which is on average 800 101 calls a day and between 150 to 200 999 calls.

An incoming 999 call is an alarm sound in the control room, that will not stop sounding until someone picks up the phone. The control room is split into geographical areas with more desks covering Newport and Caerphilly due to a higher demand than Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

Ms Glastonbury-Watkins said the call handlers are highly trained and know how to handle any situation.

Maggie, said she has worked as an operator for two-and-a-half years.

She said: “It can be quite stressful. We get a lot of alcohol-related calls at this time of year.”

One incident that had stayed with her was an “hysterical” woman who was about to be attacked. She said: “I had a 999 call early morning from a lady in her 50s saying there was a male coming towards her with a stick. She was hysterical. Thank God we got officers there quickly. That one was awful.”

Despite the stress, Maggie said she loves her job as there is no down-time and it’s different.

Supt Evans warned of inappropriate calls made to the control room at this time of year as they are a drain on the force’s limited resources.

He said examples included a woman asking for directions on her hands-free kit and another calling as there was a mouse in the kitchen and her husband was away.

“Ring us if you need us”, Supt Evans added. “We’re no different to the ambulance service, we know demand goes up for them but it’s the same for us.

“We want people to behave and be safe but don’t ring the police unless it’s an emergency.”