Wiltshire Police reveals how it handles hoax calls

Wiltshire Police has revealed how they deal with hoax calls it receives.

Speaking in Q&A with the Chief Constable, Assistant Chief Ian Saunders told us in the last 12 months the Force has had 229 fake calls to the control room.

Just last week, officers responded to a report of a multiple stabbing in Swindon, which turned out to be a hoax.

That incident required the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance to be deployed, at a cost of thousands of pounds.

In his role as Assistant Chief Constable, ACC Saunders oversees the control centre.

"Those hoax calls are a concern for us," he said, adding that 465 calls have been marked as 'being persistent and potentially vexatious'.

"Hoax calls can divert operators away from taking really important and serious phone calls," the ACC said.

ACC Saunders explained that fake calls aren't just brushed under the carpet.

He said: "If we find hoax calls being made, we do contact those callers to find out if they're vulnerable. There could be issues in their life that could be prompting them making these phone calls.

"We think very seriously about safeguarding and making sure people are ok. Whilst hoax calls are a concern for us, they can also flag other concerns."

We're urged by all emergency services to consider the consequences of fraudulently calling 999.