A total of 408,000 calls were made to the emergency line 112 during 2024, but only just over 90,000 of them – equivalent to 22% - were genuine emergencies, the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The information was provided by the Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment, Byron Camilleri, during an annual event marking European 112 Day. This year, the event was held at Bormla Primary School and was attended by the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela.

During the event, officials and vehicles from the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Civil Protection Department, and the Health Department – all of which provide emergency services – took part. Students from Bormla Primary School had the opportunity to see up close the equipment used by emergency responders and were given information about the procedures followed during emergencies.

In his speech, Minister Byron Camilleri emphasised the importance of ensuring that anyone calling 112 genuinely requires assistance. Compared to 2023, there was little change in the proportion of genuine emergency calls. In 2023, 57% of calls were false or mistaken, while in 2024, this figure dropped slightly to 50%.

He urged the public, saying: "Anyone calling 112 should do so responsibly, as a prank or malicious call could mean that someone who truly needs help is left waiting."

The minister also outlined how genuine emergency calls received through 112, which is operated and managed by the Malta Police Force, were distributed among the various emergency departments according to the nature of the situation.

79% of calls were directed to the emergency department for ambulance services, 12% of calls were for services provided by the Civil Protection Department, while 9% of calls were directed to the Malta Police Force. The Armed Forces of Malta, meanwhile, received 216 calls.

On his part, Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela explained that the majority of calls received on 112 were for ambulance services, but not all of these were responsible or necessary. He emphasised the importance of educating children from a young age on the correct use of the 112 emergency number.

He also stated that the ministry is in the advanced stages of launching an awareness campaign in the coming weeks to address this issue. The minister concluded by thanking all emergency professionals for their dedication and encouraged children to consider joining one of these professions in the future, as these roles save lives and provide essential support to Maltese and Gozitan citizens daily.

The 112 emergency line is the same in all 27 EU member states. It operates 24/7, year-round, and is available everywhere.