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Join our bid to crack down on hoax fire calls

Emilene White
1/ 2/2007

THE Advertiser is teaming up with Tameside's fire service in a crackdown on hoax calls.

From today (1 February), Advertiser readers will be able to hear the hoaxers wasting valuable time and resources as firefighters follow up these sick pranks.

If you have any information about the people making the call, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Making a hoax call is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months in jail.

Borough Commander Andy Heywood said: "This initiative is one of a number of measures we are using to further reduce the number of hoax calls.

"Year on year the different schemes we have in place drive the figures down, by educating people about the dangers of making hoax calls.

"Making a hoax call at any time is a mindless act and puts lives at risk. While this campaign runs, if you are stupid enough to make such a call in Tameside, then there just might be a recording of your voice on the internet, for everyone to hear, with a very real opportunity for us to find out who you are."

Two callers feature here on the Advertiser website - one a teenage girl claiming there is a fire in Mossley Park and the other a young man saying he has a chip pan fire. These calls shows the bizarre detail callers will go into to back up their hoax, as he even claims he has put a damp cloth over it.

These are just two of 145 such calls made in Tameside last year, a reduction of 42 per cent against the previous year but which still cost taxpayers £246,500.

Each prank call wastes around £1,700, as well as risking diverting firefighters from genuine emergencies.

CLICK on the links below to hear the clips

Related Audio Clips


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Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   STOP making Hoax calls, you time wasting fools. Our emergency services people have a hard enough job, dealing with TRUE INCIDENTS. Wasting their time could result in someone loosing their life. Why not put your energy into being a volunteer for Saint Johns Ambulance, or something else worth while. Who knows, one day you too may need the prompt action of the emergency services, yet, they may be attending a time wasting hoax call. THINK ABOUT IT.
hannah, ex-hyde
4/02/2007 at 10:36
   What a great idea, maybe these kids will think twice now so that genuine calls can be dealt with. Only thing is will people still remember to listen to the calls in a months time? Might be an idea to make it an advertiser feature to remind people to check the audio clips, if one person gets caught and prevents others from doing it i'd say its a job well done. congrats to who ever had the idea, our firemen and women have enough to deal with (including idiots throwing bricks at them while they're trying to do their jobs) all credit to them.
Kerry, Ashton
31/01/2007 at 17:45
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