Home / Crime and Justice / 999 Hoax Calls Surge 48% in Cambridgeshire
999 Hoax Calls Surge 48% in Cambridgeshire
23 Jul
Summary
- Cambridgeshire Police saw a 48% rise in hoax 999 calls last year.
- Hoax callers could face up to six months in prison.
- Peterborough accounted for one in five spoof calls since 2023.
Cambridgeshire Police experienced a substantial 48% rise in hoax 999 calls last year, with a total of 1,427 incidents compared to 961 the previous year. This alarming trend has led the force to urge the public to exercise discretion before dialing the emergency number.
Recorded hoax calls featured children seeking assistance with homework and even ordering fast food, highlighting the inappropriate use of the emergency line. The consequences for making fake 999 calls can be severe, including potential arrest, fines up to £5,000, and imprisonment for up to six months.
Data from January to May this year shows Cambridgeshire Police answered 740 hoax calls. Notably, Peterborough accounted for one in five of all spoof calls received since 2023, more than triple the number from Cambridge. In contrast, the county's fire service and ambulance service both reported decreases in hoax calls during the same period.
