Firefighters urge Londoners to consider the consequences of making hoax calls
Though hoax call attendances are decreasing across London, the Brigade is still called to thousands of ‘malicious false alarms’ every year. The latest figures show that last year (2006/7) the Brigade was called to 3159 malicious false alarms – that’s 3159 times that firefighters were taken away from potential real emergencies to attend a hoax incident.
During the week of 27th-31st August, the Brigade will be reminding Londoners of the serious consequences of making hoax calls. Val Shawcross, Chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority said: “We’re nearing the end of the school summer holidays, and young people may be bored and tempted to call 999 for a bit of fun. People of all ages may make hoax calls to seek attention. Whatever the reason, these calls are taking firefighters away from real emergencies, or preventing them from training or doing community safety work.”
“Though our ability to react to emergencies is our main concern, it’s also important to recognise that every time we attend a hoax incident, we are making unnecessary journeys which damage the environment.”
The Brigade has managed to cut the number of malicious false alarms it attends and this year the number has fallen to 3159, from 3927 during the previous year. Officers are increasingly working with mobile telephone operators, leading to phones being disconnected and several police prosecutions. Staff in the Brigade’s control centre also play their part, proactively challenging callers if they believe them to be hoaxers.
The reduction in hoax call attendances can also be attributed to youth programmes like LiFE*, that build stronger links between the Brigade, young people and communities, and allow firefighters to talk about the serious consequences of hoax calls.
Val Shawcross said: “We’ll keep working hard to reduce hoax calls, but all Londoners can play a part. If you have children talk to them about the consequences of making hoax calls. Hoax calls are not harmless fun as firefighters are regularly called to fires, serious road traffic accidents or other emergencies where every second counts. Don’t waste valuable time by calling us to hoax emergencies.”
Hoax call footage available: Recordings of actual hoax calls made to the Brigade in August are available for broadcast on request. If Londoners recognise the callers in the clips, or know of anyone making hoax calls, they should contact the police or if they would prefer, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Note to editors:
London borough figures for 'calls to malicious false alarms' are available on request. Please call the press office on 020 7587 4064.
*The Brigade’s LiFE programme (Local Intervention Fire Education) is an intensive five day course on which young people learn firefighting skills alongside real firefighters, and discuss the consequences of arson, hoax calls, driving dangerously etc
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
