Tayside officer calls for 999 callers to be charged 50p 3 January 2013 Last updated at 10:09 A Tayside Police officer has called for people to be charged to dial 999 in an effort to cut the number of nuisance calls. David Hamilton, secretary of the Tayside branch of the Scottish Police Federation, has suggested callers pay 50p to report emergencies. Sgt Hamilton's suggestion was prompted by his experience in the police control room. The officer's idea was published on the social network twitter. He posted the message: "Maybe time to make 999 a premium rate number? Maybe time to make 999 a premium rate number? If a genuine emergency you'd spend 50p to report it. End Quote Sgt David Hamilton Phoneboxes exempt. Figures from Tayside Police show that in 2009 the force received 4,742 hoax or nuisance calls. David Sinclair from Victim support said he didn't reject the idea completely, but that it would need some "very deep thinking." He said: "The thought that even one person could be deterred from calling 999 because of a charge needs to be seriously considered. The suggestion of a charge does not appear to be the most viable suggestion we have ever had, the 999 service is recognised as a national emergency service.