Police are taking days to respond to 999 calls, despite telling victims they will be there within the hour, a report has found.

Thousands of victims of serious crimes, including violence, burglary and sexual offences, are being forced to wait in queues, until officers are dispatched to deal with their case.

In some instances it can take officers several days to turn up to see the victim, despite their calls being classed as requiring a "prompt" response.

Around a quarter of all forces in England and Wales were identified as having problems in responding to emergency calls, something inspectors warned was "putting vulnerable people at serious risk of harm".

In an annual review of police performance, conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Rescue Services (HMICFRS), inspectors acknowledged that the system was under "severe strain" and "cracks were beginning to show".