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Hoax 999 calls cost time, money and lives

Police have warned of the dangers of hoax 999 calls – after the number made in 2008 was more than treble the figure of 2007.

New figures show that 1,141 hoax calls were made in 2008 up to December 14, compared to 336 in 2007, and 339 in 2006.

One of the many calls received at the emergency call centre was from a man who claimed he had found Osama Bin Laden and had tied him to a chair.

Another hoaxer repeatedly rang emergency call-handlers to tell them he wanted a glass of water and the pub he was in would not give him one.

It costs Humberside Police up to £222 for every police car they deploy to a hoax emergency, and Humberside Fire and Rescue say responding to a fake call-out costs £170.

A Humberside Police spokesman said although some hoax calls sounded amusing, they could cost lives.

“Clearly there has been a rise in the number of hoax calls made to the emergency services’ 999 number,” he said. “We treat this sort of time wasting very seriously, and will look to take the appropriate legal action against those found to be responsible for making the calls. “Hoax calls can have serious consequences, as units could be tied up on a time-wasting call while needed for a genuine emergency elsewhere.”

The spokesman said it was unclear why the number of hoax messages had increased, but added it could be because of an improvement to the way hoax calls are logged.

Hoaxers are warned they face possible prosecution for their actions.

“If we have someone persistently wasting our time we do prosecute,” said the spokesman. “This can range from a fixed penalty notice to whatever is deemed to be fitting for them.”

A spokesman from East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Hoax calls can put people’s lives in danger. “EMAS urges people who misuse the emergency service to consider the needs of others.”

By definition, a hoax telephone call is one which is not deemed ‘information only’ or a ‘call with good intent’.

Calls to the emergency services from North Lincolnshire are handled by either the Southern Command Centre in Grimsby or the Northern Command Centre in Hessle on the North Bank.

29th January 2009
January 2009 - Hoax 999 calls cost time, money and lives