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Hertfordshire Constabulary has launched a major campaign to help cut hoax 999 calls to the force and drive home the dangers of making such calls.

In the past seven months over 2,300 inappropriate calls have been made to the emergency services, and while this is only three per cent of the total 92,400 calls made to 999 during that period, the Constabulary wants to push this down even further.

They are also hoping to cut inappropriate calls to 999 where people ring the number in error, such as when they want to pass messages onto officers or get hold of other agencies such as a water board or electricity company. The police want to encourage members of the public to only use 999 if there is an immediate threat to life or property because otherwise it diverts valuable resources.

Superintendent Rob Henry, who manages the contact Management Centre said:

鈥淲hether someone rings 999 maliciously or in error, it could prevent a genuine 999 caller from getting through or divert valuable police resources from a genuine emergency incident.

鈥淯ltimately, it could endanger someone鈥檚 life, and even result in a criminal conviction for the caller if the call is found to be malicious. We are strongly appealing for people to think before they call.鈥�

Facts about making hoax calls

• The maximum penalty for hoax call offences is imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of 拢5,000. If it involves specifically wasting police time this can be up to seven years.
• All calls are recorded and can be used as evidence. Police have the power to disconnect mobiles from which hoax calls are made.
• Using specialist software, police are also able to trace where calls are made from, and so locate any hoax callers and obtain their telephone numbers.
• People should only dial 999 in an emergency. An emergency is when there is a risk of injury to someone or a risk of serious damage to property, you suspect a crime is in progress or there is a serious incident which needs immediate police attendance.
• If there is no emergency, people can call the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222 or even contact their neighbourhood team (numbers are available on the Hertfordshire Constabulary Website).