Greater Manchester Police has urged people to call only when necessary after coronavirus has caused the force to see a drop in its numbers.
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said a large number of staff have been forced to self-isolate, reducing numbers by around ten per cent.
He reassured the public that officers are still responding to calls, and will attend incidents when required. But the police chief asked people to use the Live Chat service and online crime recording facilities for non-emergencies.
This will give officers the chance to focus on serious crime, and allow them to police supermarkets and pharmacies, if needed.